Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2016 Dec;10(12):ZE01-ZE04.
doi: 10.7860/JCDR/2016/19890.9024. Epub 2016 Dec 1.

Boron Neutron Capture Therapy - A Literature Review

Kavitaa Nedunchezhian  1 , Nalini Aswath  2 , Manigandan Thiruppathy  3 , Sarumathi Thirugnanamurthy  4
Affiliations
Review

Boron Neutron Capture Therapy - A Literature Review

Kavitaa Nedunchezhian et al. J Clin Diagn Res. 2016 Dec.

Abstract

Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) is a radiation science which is emerging as a hopeful tool in treating cancer, by selectively concentrating boron compounds in tumour cells and then subjecting the tumour cells to epithermal neutron beam radiation. BNCT bestows upon the nuclear reaction that occurs when Boron-10, a stable isotope, is irradiated with low-energy thermal neutrons to yield α particles (Helium-4) and recoiling lithium-7 nuclei. A large number of 10 Boron (10B) atoms have to be localized on or within neoplastic cells for BNCT to be effective, and an adequate number of thermal neutrons have to be absorbed by the 10B atoms to maintain a lethal 10B (n, α) lithium-7 reaction. The most exclusive property of BNCT is that it can deposit an immense dose gradient between the tumour cells and normal cells. BNCT integrates the fundamental focusing perception of chemotherapy and the gross anatomical localization proposition of traditional radiotherapy.

Keywords: 10Boron; Borocaptate sodium; Boronophenylalanine; Chemotherapy; Radiotherapy.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

[Table/Fig-1]:
[Table/Fig-1]:
Nuclear reaction.
[Table/Fig-2]:
[Table/Fig-2]:
How BNCT eliminates tumour cells.
[Table/Fig-3]:
[Table/Fig-3]:
Block diagram representing the procedure for BNCT.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Locher GL. Biological effects and therapeutic possibilities of neutrons. Am J Roentgenol Radium Ther. 1936;36(1):1–13.
    1. International Atomic Energy Agency. IAEA in Austria.2001. Available from: http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/te_1223_prn.pdf [Last Date of access-11/11/2016]
    1. Moss RL. Critical review, with an optimistic outlook, on Boron Neutron Capture [3] Therapy (BNCT) Appl Radiat Isotopes [Internet] 2014 Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2013.11.109 [Last Date of access-11/11/2016] - DOI - PubMed
    1. Suzuki M, Kato I, Aihara T, Hiratsuka J, Yoshimura K, Niimi M, et al. Boron neutron capture therapy outcomes for advanced or recurrent head and neck cancer. Journal of Radiation Research. 2014;55(1):146–53. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Chadwick J. The existence of a neutron. Proc R Soc Lond. 1932;A136:692–708.