title: Boron-lipiodol: a potential new drug for the treatment of liver tumors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a form of radiation therapy and has been proposed for the treatment of some malignancies with encouraging results. However, none of them has ever been applied to liver malignancy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of boron-lipiodol (B-lipiodol) for the treatment of VX2 liver tumor via BNCT.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve New Zealand rabbits were randomly separated into two groups: lipiodol and boron-lipiodol groups. The rabbits were anesthetized, a midline incision was made and the left lobe of the liver was injected with 0.1 ml of VX2 tumor cells. After the tumor reached 2-3 cm in diameter, the rabbits were anesthetized and 0.5 ml of boron-lipiodol was injected into the hepatic artery via an angiocatheter. Liver function tests and renal function tests were performed before, at 12 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours and 7 days after injection of drugs in both groups. The concentration of boron in various tissues was determined on the 7th day after injection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Liver function was abnormal at 12 hours after injection, and then gradually returned to normal at 7 days, indicative of acute temporary hepatic damage. As for the renal function, no significant change was noted in either group. The boron level was 49.7 ppm in tumor and 6.31 ppm in the healthy liver 7 days after injection of B-lipiodol. The ratio of boron concentrations between the tumor and the normal liver tissue was 7.87. As for blood and other organs including spleen, heart and kidney, the concentration of boron was low. In the lipiodol group, the boron concentrations in tumor and various organs were low.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high concentration of boron after intra-arterial injection of B-lipiodol can be used for neutron capture therapy. B-lipiodol has potential for the treatment of liver malignancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung 40705, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wan-Yu
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chin-Wen
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.forename: Yung-Jen
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: I-Chieh
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yang-Tsung
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: San-Duo
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Fong-In
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Ji-Jong
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kai
authors.forename: Wing-Yiu
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Lui
authors.forename: Te-Jung
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yungchang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001895:Boron / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D016754:Boron Neutron Capture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D007459:Iodized Oil / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D007459:Iodized Oil; D001895:Boron