title: Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) for liver metastasis: therapeutic efficacy in an experimental model.
abstract: Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) was proposed for untreatable colorectal liver metastases. The present study evaluates tumor control and potential radiotoxicity of BNCT in an experimental model of liver metastasis. BDIX rats were inoculated with syngeneic colon cancer cells DHD/K12/TRb. Tumor-bearing animals were divided into three groups: BPA-BNCT, boronophenylalanine (BPA) + neutron irradiation; Beam only, neutron irradiation; Sham, matched manipulation. The total absorbed dose administered with BPA-BNCT was 13 ± 3 Gy in tumor and 9 ± 2 Gy in healthy liver. Three weeks post-treatment, the tumor surface area post-treatment/pre-treatment ratio was 0.46 ± 0.20 for BPA-BNCT, 2.7 ± 1.8 for Beam only and 4.5 ± 3.1 for Sham. The pre-treatment tumor nodule mass of 48 ± 19 mg fell significantly to 19 ± 16 mg for BPA-BNCT, but rose significantly to 140 ± 106 mg for Beam only and to 346 ± 302 mg for Sham. For both end points, the differences between the BPA-BNCT group and each of the other groups were statistically significant (ANOVA). No clinical, macroscopic or histological normal liver radiotoxicity was observed. It is concluded that BPA-BNCT induced a significant remission of experimental colorectal tumor nodules in liver with no contributory liver toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department Radiobiology, National Atomic Energy Commission, Avenida General Paz 1499, B1650KNA, San Martin, Province Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Emiliano C C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Pozzi
authors.forename: Jorge E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.forename: Lucas L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thorp
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Monti Hughes
authors.forename: Ana J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Molinari
authors.forename: Marcela A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Garabalino
authors.forename: Elisa M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Heber
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Maria E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Itoiz
authors.forename: Romina F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Aromando
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Nigg
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Quintana
authors.forename: Verónica A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Trivillin
authors.forename: Amanda E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Schwint
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016754:Boron Neutron Capture Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D008297:Male; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D051381:Rats; D016896:Treatment Outcome