Unifying dose specification between clinical BNCT centers in the Americas.

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Radiation Oncology
• Nuclear Engineering

Background:

• Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) is an advanced cancer treatment.
• Standardized dosimetry is crucial for accurate BNCT treatment planning and patient data analysis.
• Intercenter comparisons are essential for multi-institutional clinical trials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To perform a dosimetry intercomparison between the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica (CNEA) BNCT groups.
• To enable combined analyses of BNCT patient data from different centers.
• To validate the CNEA's NCTPlan treatment planning system against established MIT dosimetry.

Main Methods:

• In-air and dose-depth measurements were conducted using a water phantom.
• Measurements were performed at the RA-6 reactor's hyperthermal neutron beam facility.
• Calculated dose profiles from the NCTPlan system were compared with experimental data.

Main Results:

• The dosimetry intercomparison involved measurements at the RA-6 reactor.
• Normalization factors were determined for thermal neutrons (1.0), photons (1.13), and fast neutrons (0.74).
• These factors were required to align CNEA's NCTPlan dosimetry with MIT's established dosimetry.

Conclusions:

• The study successfully intercompared dosimetry protocols between MIT and CNEA.
• Identified normalization factors are critical for harmonizing BNCT treatment planning and patient data.
• This intercomparison facilitates collaborative BNCT research and clinical trials.