title: Evaluation of the dose enhancement of combined ¹⁰B + ¹⁵⁷Gd neutron capture therapy (NCT).
abstract: An innovative molecule, GdBLDL, for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) has been developed and its effectiveness as a BNCT carrier is currently under evaluation using in vivo experiments on small animal tumour models. The molecule contains both (10)B (the most commonly used NCT agent) and (157)Gd nuclei. (157)Gd is the second most studied element to perform NCT, mainly thanks to its high cross section for the capture of low-energy neutrons. The main drawback of (157)Gd neutron capture reaction is the very short range and low-energy secondary charged particles (Auger electrons), which requires (157)Gd to be very close to the cellular DNA to have an appreciable biological effect. Treatment doses were calculated by Monte Carlo simulations to ensure the optimised tumour irradiation and the sparing of the healthy organs of the irradiated animals. The enhancement of the absorbed dose due to the simultaneous presence of (10)B and (157)Gd in the experimental set-up was calculated and the advantage introduced by the presence of (157)Gd was discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Pavia, via Bassi 6, Pavia 27100, Italy National Institute of Nuclear Physics INFN, Section of Pavia, via Bassi 6, Pavia 27100, Italy nicoletta.protti@pv.infn.it.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Protti
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, via Nizza 52, Torino 10126, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Geninatti-Crich
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, via Nizza 52, Torino 10126, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Alberti
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, via Nizza 52, Torino 10126, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lanzardo
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Torino, via P.Giuria 7, Torino 10125, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Deagostino
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Torino, via P.Giuria 7, Torino 10125, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Toppino
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, via Nizza 52, Torino 10126, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aime
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Pavia, via Bassi 6, Pavia 27100, Italy National Institute of Nuclear Physics INFN, Section of Pavia, via Bassi 6, Pavia 27100, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ballarini
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Pavia, via Bassi 6, Pavia 27100, Italy National Institute of Nuclear Physics INFN, Section of Pavia, via Bassi 6, Pavia 27100, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bortolussi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Pavia, via Bassi 6, Pavia 27100, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bruschi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Pavia, via Bassi 6, Pavia 27100, Italy National Institute of Nuclear Physics INFN, Section of Pavia, via Bassi 6, Pavia 27100, Italy.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Postuma
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Pavia, via Bassi 6, Pavia 27100, Italy National Institute of Nuclear Physics INFN, Section of Pavia, via Bassi 6, Pavia 27100, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Altieri
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm SE171 76, Sweden.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nikjoo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001895:Boron / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015674:Mammary Neoplasms, Animal / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008954:Models, Biological; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D017247:Neutron Capture Therapy; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted
chemical_list: D005682:Gadolinium; D001895:Boron