Effect of Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) on normal liver regeneration: towards a novel therapy for liver metastases.
OBJECTIVE
The effect of Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) on normal liver regeneration was examined in the Wistar rat. The model used is clinically relevant to a novel technique proposed for the treatment of multifocal non-resectable liver metastases in man. The success of the technique also requires that BNCT should not significantly impair regeneration of normal hepatocytes.


METHODS
The effect of therapeutic doses of boronophenylalanine (BPA), GB-10 (Na(2)(10)B(10)H(10)) and (GB-10 + BPA) and of BNCT mediated by these boron delivery agents on normal liver regeneration and liver function in the Wistar rat was examined using partial hepatectomy as the regenerative stimulus. The end-points evaluated were body weight, liver weight/body weight ratio, DNA synthesis in terms of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation, hemogram, kidney function in terms of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels, liver function in terms of serum albumin, total and direct bilirubin and liver enzymes (alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase) and liver histology/architecture.


RESULTS
BNCT mediated by BPA, GB-10 or (GB-10 + BPA) did not cause alterations in the outcome of normal liver regeneration, regenerated liver function/proliferation or histology/architecture.


CONCLUSIONS
The BNCT protocols, at the physical doses selected, did not impair the capacity of normal liver hepatocytes to regenerate.
Cardoso
Jorge E
JE
Instituto de Oncología Angel H. Roffo, University of Buenos Aires.
Trivillin
Veronica A
VA
Heber
Elisa M
EM
Nigg
David W
DW
Calzetta
Osvaldo
O
Blaumann
Herman
H
Longhino
Juan
J
Itoiz
Maria E
ME
Bumaschny
Eduardo
E
Pozzi
Emiliano
E
Schwint
Amanda E
AE
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000528:radiation effects*; D001896:Boron Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016754:Boron Neutron Capture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008115:Liver Regeneration / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000528:radiation effects*; D010649:Phenylalanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D001896:Boron Compounds; D010649:Phenylalanine; D004247:DNA; C033685:4-boronophenylalanine