Basic investigation of boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) using novel boron agents and accelerator based neutron source

Abstract

Abstract-Recently the number of cancer case has been increasing. In addition, because of aging of the population and diversification of values among the people, less-invasive and high-QOL (quality of life) treatment for tumors has been needed. BNCT (Boron Neutron Capture Therapy) is based on the nuclear reaction of two essentially nontoxic species, 10 B and thermal neutron. BNCT is effective and minimally invasive treatment. However BNCT is inefficient because atomic reactor is used for neutron source. In this study, we proposed to BNCT using an accelerator and new boron agents; HVJ (Hemagglutinating Virus of Japan) envelope (HVJ-E) and Boronated liposome (B-Liposome). HVJ-E is a nonviral vector using inactivated virus particle and it can deriver inclusions into cells via membrane-fusing activity. B-Liposome made of boronated phosphatide analogue can deliver the drug which is encapsulated into liposome with boron. We tried BNCT trail in vivo using an accelerator and new drugs. We used A549 cell line and OKTAVIAN which is 14 MeV neutron source by D-T reaction. In the result, these new boron agents realized the sufficient intracellular boron concentration and higher cytotoxicity reaction compared with a conventional boron compound (Sodium borocaptate: BSH). Therefore, we confirmed the possibility of BNCT using new drugs.