The project aims to conduct histopathological (University of Catania), transmission electron microscopy-TEM (University G. d’Annunzio Chieti-Pescara), and molecular analyses (CRS4) to study markers of damage and function following RT, both in conventional and FLASH modes. The goals of the project include studying the effect of RT on melanoma and healthy tissues such as skin, adipose tissue, heart, and lung in mice. This will be accomplished by injecting melanoma cells into mice and then exposing them to RT. Current research on FLASH therapy suggests that although there have been some studies on the effects of this treatment on skin tissue, there is still a significant knowledge gap regarding its impact on heart and white adipose tissue (WAT). This lack of information leaves important questions about the safety and efficacy of FLASH therapy unanswered. Considering the vital functions that the heart and WAT perform in the body, it is critical to fill this gap in our knowledge to ensure that FLASH therapy is a safe and efficient treatment option for patients. Therefore, further research is urgently needed to provide a comprehensive analysis of the impact of FLASH therapy on these tissues.
Histopathological, transmission electron microscopy, and molecular analyses to study markers of damage and function will be used to create a database to instruct an artificial intelligence (AI) to identify patterns of damage and function in healthy and tumor tissues, with the goal of improving the efficacy of RT and reducing its side effects.
Expected results include a better understanding of the effect of RT on melanoma and healthy tissues, which could lead to new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of melanoma. In addition, the results could provide valuable information on the response of healthy tissues to FLASH radiotherapy, which could be used to minimize the side effects of therapy.
