April 9, 2019 — Varian, in partnership with the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s Department of Radiation Oncology and the Maryland Proton Treatment Center, presented publicly the first pre-clinical results of its research on ultra-high-dose rate cancer treatments with protons. Known as Flash therapy, it is a non-invasive therapy for cancer delivering high doses of radiation in ultra-high-speeds (less than 1 second) and represents the potential for a major breakthrough in the treatment of cancer. The preclinical Flash therapy results — presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting, March 29-April 3 in Atlanta — showed reduced toxicity in healthy tissues and organs.
Conducted on a clinical device capable of translation to humans, the Flash therapy preclinical tests, compared to conventional proton treatments, displayed 25-30 percent less damage to lung tissue, resulting in less fibrosis of the lung, and an average of 35 percent reduction in skin dermatitis during treatment.
The FlashForward Consortium, comprised of 14 cancer centers, is focused on preclinical research, clinical implementation and advocacy efforts of Flash therapy. Working groups in the FlashForward Consortium are identifying preclinical study design for understanding this therapy, developing and sharing protocols that will enable a safe and quality clinical start for new users, and assist with regulatory and advocacy efforts.
“Partnering with Varian’s Global Translational Science team on the first proton Flash pre-clinical study, and being one of the founding members of the FlashForward Consortium, is a significant step in building a foundation of research and bridging the gap to patient benefits in this potentially game-changing therapy,” said William F. Regine, M.D., The Isadore & Fannie Foxman Chair and professor, Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and executive director of the Maryland Proton Treatment Center. The pre-clinical study was led by Zeljko Vujaskovic, M.D., Ph.D., professor of radiation oncology and director of the Division of Translational Radiation Services, and Lauren Jackson, Ph.D., associate professor of radiation oncology and deputy director of translational radiation sciences.
Read more about the data presented at AACR here.
For more information: www.varian.com
June 12, 2025 
