Advanced Oncotherapy PLC (AIM:AVO) has said a modelling study comparing its LIGHT proton therapy with other rival systems supports its potential to deliver superior results in treating brain cancer tumours.
Findings from the modelling study, led by the company's research partner, the Cleveland Clinic, were presented on October 25, 2022, at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) 2022 annual meeting held in San Antonio, USA.
Modelling showed the superior results should result from the faster delivery time and precision from LIGHT that minimises damage to surrounding healthy tissues, the company said.
With the study detailing the treatment planning of brain metastases for 35 brain lesions from 20 patients, researchers developed treatment plans using cyclotron and LIGHT proton systems as well as the photon systems such as Gamma Knife radiosurgery.
The LIGHT system delivered a 17%-44% lower dose of radiation to healthy tissue in the brain compared to the cyclotron and photon systems, according to the study, published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology - Biology - Physics, which noted that this dose differential is a key quality parameter.
LIGHT’s treatment plan also enabled an average 58% faster dose delivery compared to the cyclotron treatment plan, the report said.
In a statement, Dr Jonathan Farr, chief clinical officer at Advanced Oncotherapy, said the study showed how LIGHT’s linear accelerator proton beams “have the potential to outperform both photon-based and cyclotron-generated proton beams modalities in the treatment of small brain tumours, as their precision and fast proton delivery time minimises damage to surrounding healthy tissues”.
He added: “We believe the LIGHT system is set to be the most versatile proton therapy system available. As this modelling study shows, it is ideally positioned to deliver precisely both linear accelerator proton beams and linear accelerator proton mini-beams.
“In addition, it has great potential to provide cutting edge treatment protocols such as scanned, conformal FLASH radiotherapy.”
Last month the company’s first commercial LIGHT accelerator produced a proton beam at 230 megaelectron volts (MeV) at its assembly site in Daresbury, Cheshire.
First patients are expected to be treated at the facility in the second half of 2023.