Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT): a radiation oncology perspective

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) offers considerable promise in the search for the ideal cancer therapy, a therapy which selectively and maximally damages malignant cells while sparing normal tissue. This bimodal treatment modality selectively concentrates a boron compound in malignant cells, and then "activates" this compound with slow neutrons resulting in a highly lethal event within the cancer cell. This article will review this treatment modality from a radiation oncology, biology, and physics perspective. The remainder of the articles in this special issue of the Journal will provide a survey of the current "state-of-the-art" in this rapidly expanding field, including information with regard to boron compounds and their localization.