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Boron neutron capture irradiation: setting up a clinical programme in Nice
J P Pignol1, P Chauvel, P Paquis
1Centre Antoine-Lacassagne, Cyclotron Biomédical, Nice, France.
Bulletin Du Cancer. Radiotherapie : Journal De La Societe Francaise Du Cancer : Organe De La Societe Francaise De Radiotherapie Oncologique
|January 1, 1996
Summary
Neutron capture therapy (NCT) and neutron capture potentiation (NCP) show promise for treating glioblastomas. NCT utilizes boron-10 nuclear reactions for targeted tumor cell destruction, while NCP enhances treatment with fast neutron beams.
Area of Science:
- Nuclear Medicine
- Radiation Oncology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Neutron capture irradiation targets tumor cells via 10B(n,alpha)7Li nuclear reactions, emitting alpha particles and 7Li ions that destroy molecular structures within a 10-micron range.
- Neutron capture therapy (BNCT) uses slow neutrons, while neutron capture potentiation (NCP) combines this with fast neutron beams.
- The Centre Antoine-Lacassagne is involved in a European project for BNCT of glioblastomas (GBM) and is developing epithermal neutron targets for cyclotron compatibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the potential of neutron capture potentiation (NCP) for treating glioblastomas (GBM).
- To assess the thermalized neutron yield and biological effectiveness of NCP in phantom and cell line studies.
- To compare the therapeutic potential of neutron capture particles with fast neutrons for GBM treatment.
Main Methods:
- Measured thermalized neutron yield in phantoms irradiated with a fast neutron beam from a biomedical cyclotron.
- Utilized the CAL 58 GBM cell line to determine the dose modification factor (DMF) with boric acid.
- Compared experimental results with historical data on fast neutron irradiation of glioblastomas.
Main Results:
- A thermal neutron peak was observed at 5 cm depth in tissues, following the fast neutron peak at 1.8 cm.
- A potential physical overdosage of 10% was calculated assuming 100 ppm of 10B in tissues.
- The CAL 58 GBM cell line showed a dose modification factor (DMF) of 1.19 with 100 ppm boric acid, indicating biological efficiency at least twice that of fast neutrons.
Conclusions:
- Neutron capture potentiation (NCP) demonstrates a delayed thermal neutron peak, suggesting potential for enhanced tumor cell killing.
- The biological efficiency of particles from neutron capture is at least twice that of fast neutrons.
- These findings suggest a potential therapeutic window for glioblastoma treatment using NCP.