We’re still learning why FLASH radiation spares normal tissues more than conventional radiation. One factor! may be that FLASH spares mitochondrial function in nontumorigenic cells but not in tumor cells. In vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo studies showed that normal pancreatic cells maintained mitochondrial membrane potential, reduced mitochondrial ROS, and preserved mitochondrial DNA integrity after FLASH, while tumor cells showed equivalent mitochondrial damage regardless of dose rate. | Caggiano, Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2026
