Speaker
Descrizione
Laser-driven particle acceleration represents an emerging and potentially transformative technology in radiation oncology. At the Extreme Light Infrastructure (ELI), substantial advances over the past two years have led to improved beam stability, higher repetition rates, enhanced spectral control, and more reproducible delivery conditions. These developments have enabled, for the first time, controlled and repeatable irradiation experiments in preclinical biological models. The distinctive physical characteristics of laser based neutrons and laser-accelerated protons and electrons - including ultrashort pulse durations and ultra-high instantaneous dose rates a nd extreme small beam size - create irradiation conditions that differ fundamentally from those produced by conventional cyclotron- or LINAC-based systems. Recent studies have explored biological endpoints such as DNA double-strand break induction (γH2AX), apoptosis, clonogenic survival, and organism-level responses in both in vitro and in vivo systems. However, important challenges remain. In particular, absolute dosimetry under ultrashort-pulse, high-fluence conditions is not yet fully established, and uncertainties in dose quantification, spectral distribution, and shot-to-shot variability currently limit definitive biological interpretation. While comparative investigations with conventionally accelerated beams are ongoing, these technical constraints preclude firm conclusions regarding relative biological effectiveness or potential dose-rate–dependent modulation effects. Nevertheless, the recent improvements in accelerator performance have made meaningful radiobiological experimentation feasible and have generated a growing body of preliminary data. Rather than demonstrating superiority over conventional modalities at this stage, laser-driven particle beams should be regarded as a promising experimental platform for probing new irradiation regimes and testing hypotheses that extend beyond current accelerator capabilities. Further progress in dosimetric standardization, beam monitoring, and reproducibility will enable to translate these experimental advances into robust comparative radiobiology and, ultimately, to assess clinical relevance. The field is thus transitioning from technological proof-of-concept toward structured biological validation, marking an important step in the development of next-generation radiotherapy concepts.
