NARILIS seminar | Prof. Joao Seco, Heidelberg University, Germany

We are pleased to invite you to a seminar given by

Prof. Dr. Joao Seco

Heidelberg University, Department of Physics and Astronomy

DKFZ, Division of Biomedical Physics in Radiation Oncology

https://www.dkfz.de/en/biomedical-physics-in-radiation-oncology

His seminar is entitled:

FLASH radiotherapy (FLASH-RT) has generated considerable interest because of its unique ability to reduce normal tissue toxicity while preserving tumor control. The oxygen depletion hypothesis was initially proposed as the principal explanation for the FLASH effect; however, accumulating experimental evidence indicates that this mechanism alone cannot fully explain the observed biological responses. This presentation will review the current understanding of FLASH-RT biology, highlighting emerging evidence for additional mechanisms involving reactive oxygen species, redox regulation, immune and inflammatory responses, vascular signaling, and tissue-specific biological processes. The strengths and limitations of the major mechanistic hypotheses will be critically discussed, together with the influence of radiation quality, dose rate, fractionation, and tissue oxygenation. Finally, the talk will outline the key unanswered questions and future research directions required to achieve a comprehensive mechanistic understanding and support the clinical translation of FLASH radiotherapy.

Invited by Prof. Anne-Catherine Heuskin, UNamur, LARN

Supported by BelFLASH (Belgian network for research on FLASH radiotherapy)