title: Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT): implications of neutron beam and boron compound characteristics.
abstract: The potential efficacy of boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) for malignant glioma is a significant function of epithermal-neutron beam biophysical characteristics as well as boron compound biodistribution characteristics. Monte Carlo analyses were performed to evaluate the relative significance of these factors on theoretical tumor control using a standard model. The existing, well-characterized epithermal-neutron sources at the Brookhaven Medical Research Reactor (BMRR), the Petten High Flux Reactor (HFR), and the Finnish Research Reactor (FiR-1) were compared. Results for a realistic accelerator design by the E. O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBL) are also compared. Also the characteristics of the compound p-Boronophenylaline Fructose (BPA-F) and a hypothetical next-generation compound were used in a comparison of the BMRR and a hypothetical improved reactor. All components of dose induced by an external epithermal-neutron beam fall off quite rapidly with depth in tissue. Delivery of dose to greater depths is limited by the healthy-tissue tolerance and a reduction in the hydrogen-recoil and incident gamma dose allow for longer irradiation and greater dose at a depth. Dose at depth can also be increased with a beam that has higher neutron energy (without too high a recoil dose) and a more forward peaked angular distribution. Of the existing facilities, the FiR-1 beam has the better quality (lower hydrogen-recoil and incident gamma dose) and a penetrating neutron spectrum and was found to deliver a higher value of Tumor Control Probability (TCP) than other existing beams at shallow depth. The greater forwardness and penetration of the HFR the FiR-1 at greater depths. The hypothetical reactor and accelerator beams outperform at both shallow and greater depths. In all cases, the hypothetical compound provides a significant improvement in efficacy but it is shown that the full benefit of improved compound is not realized until the neutron beam is fully optimized.
authors.affiliation: Center for Advanced Radiation Therapies, Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, Idaho Falls 83415-3890, USA.
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Wheeler
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Nigg
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Capala
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Watkins
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vroegindeweij
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Auterinen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Seppälä
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bleuel
mesh_terms: D001703:Biophysics / Q000379:methods; D001896:Boron Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016754:Boron Neutron Capture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005632:Fructose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005720:Gamma Rays; D005910:Glioma / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006257:Head; D006801:Humans; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D009502:Neutrons / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009688:Nuclear Reactors; D010315:Particle Accelerators; D011336:Probability; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage
chemical_list: C089739:4-boronophenylalanine-fructose; D001896:Boron Compounds; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; D005632:Fructose