title: Computational assessment of deep-seated tumor treatment capability of the 9Be(d,n)10B reaction for accelerator-based boron neutron capture therapy (AB-BNCT).
abstract: The 9Be(d,n)10B reaction was studied as an epithermal neutron source for brain tumor treatment through Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT). In BNCT, neutrons are classified according to their energies as thermal (<0.5 eV), epithermal (from 0.5 eV to 10 keV) or fast (>10 keV). For deep-seated tumors epithermal neutrons are needed. Since a fraction of the neutrons produced by this reaction are quite fast (up to 5-6 MeV, even for low-bombarding energies), an efficient beam shaping design is required. This task was carried out (1) by selecting the combinations of bombarding energy and target thickness that minimize the highest-energy neutron production; and (2) by the appropriate choice of the Beam Shaping Assembly (BSA) geometry, for each of the combinations found in (1). The BSA geometry was determined as the configuration that maximized the dose deliverable to the tumor in a 1 h treatment, within the constraints imposed by the healthy tissue dose adopted tolerance. Doses were calculated through the MCNP code. The highest dose deliverable to the tumor was found for an 8 μm target and a deuteron beam of 1.45 MeV. Tumor weighted doses ≥40 Gy can be delivered up to about 5 cm in depth, with a maximum value of 51 Gy at a depth of about 2 cm. This dose performance can be improved by relaxing the treatment time constraint and splitting the treatment into two 1-h sessions. These good treatment capabilities strengthen the prospects for a potential use of this reaction in BNCT.
authors.affiliation: Gerencia de Investigación y Aplicaciones, CNEA, Av. Gral. Paz 1499 (B1650KNA), San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Escuela de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, M. de Irigoyen 3100 (1650), San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET. Av. Rivadavia 1917 (C1033AAJ), Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: capoulat@tandar.cnea.gov.ar.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Capoulat
authors.affiliation: Gerencia de Investigación y Aplicaciones, CNEA, Av. Gral. Paz 1499 (B1650KNA), San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Escuela de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, M. de Irigoyen 3100 (1650), San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET. Av. Rivadavia 1917 (C1033AAJ), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Minsky
authors.affiliation: Gerencia de Investigación y Aplicaciones, CNEA, Av. Gral. Paz 1499 (B1650KNA), San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Escuela de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, M. de Irigoyen 3100 (1650), San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET. Av. Rivadavia 1917 (C1033AAJ), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Kreiner
mesh_terms: D001608:Beryllium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001895:Boron / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016754:Boron Neutron Capture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005720:Gamma Rays; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D009502:Neutrons / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage
chemical_list: D011868:Radioisotopes; D001895:Boron; D001608:Beryllium
keywords: (9)Be(d,n)(10)B reaction; Accelerator-based BNCT; Brain tumor treatment; Monte-Carlo-simulations