by
Gus Iversen, Editor in Chief | August 29, 2025
(Photo courtesy of Cincinnati Children's)
Varian, a Siemens Healthineers company, has finished enrolling and treating participants in its FAST-02 clinical trial, evaluating Flash radiotherapy for thoracic bone metastases. The study involved 10 patients and was conducted at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital/UC Health Proton Therapy Center.
FAST-02 aimed to assess both side effects and self-reported pain relief following treatment. It builds on prior findings from FAST-01, which tested Flash therapy in treating bone metastases in the limbs. Flash therapy delivers ultrahigh-dose rate radiation in under a second — over 100 times faster than conventional approaches — and has shown promise in preclinical models for reducing collateral tissue damage.
“Completing treatments for FAST-02 is a pivotal and progressive step in our effort to establish the safety and effectiveness of Flash radiotherapy,” said Dr. John Perentesis, principal investigator and professor at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Co-investigator Dr. Emily Daugherty, associate professor at the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center, also led the study.
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To enable Flash delivery, Varian adapted its ProBeam proton therapy system and enhanced its Eclipse treatment planning software. “From a physics standpoint, we’re pushing the boundaries of both planning and delivering ultrahigh-dose rates, and we’re doing it safely,” said Anthony Mascia, executive director and medical physics lead at the Proton Therapy Center.
Illinois- and Michigan-based OSF HealthCare collaborated on the trial by referring participants. “We’re proud to have supported the FAST-02 trial,” said Dr. James McGee, founding director of the OSF Cancer Institute.
Varian’s chief medical officer, Dr. Deepak Khuntia, called the trial a milestone. “Completing enrollment in FAST-02 underscores our commitment to develop the evidence needed to advance technologies that have the potential to transform the future of cancer care,” he said.
Analysis of the trial data is underway and will help inform future studies on Flash therapy in broader cancer treatment contexts.
