Boron Neutron Capture Therapy
History of BNCT
Gordon Locher first proposed BNCT in 1936. Clinical investigation and treatments was first introduced in the USA in the 1950s and showed promising results. Historically, neutrons for BNCT were only available from the core of a nuclear reactor, which posed a significant barrier to clinical research and adoption as a practical cancer therapy.
Despite this challenge, approximately 2,000 patients have been treated at research sites worldwide and have shown encouraging results in the treatment of glioblastomas, head and neck2, and other challenging cancers.
Now, a renaissance in BNCT is occurring with the availability of new accelerator-based neutrons sources and boron-10 target drugs, allowing clinical research to expand with the goal to have BNCT available as a new treatment option for patients everywhere.
How it Works
BNCT is a targeted, non-invasive, two-step procedure designed to treat the most difficult and inoperable cancers. A patient is first infused with a non-toxic boron-10 compound, which preferentially accumulates in tumor tissue. After the infusion, the tumor is irradiated with low energy neutrons. The reaction, inside the cells, emits charged particles that destroy the cell while limiting damage to surrounding healthy tissue without boron-10.
Benefits
The secondary radiation reaction from BNCT, with cellular-level precision, spares more healthy tissue and can potentially treat cancers that otherwise have few treatment options.