Opportunities for Using an Accelerator-Based Epithermal Neutron Source for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy

Accelerator-based boron neutron capture therapy for malignant glioma: a pilot neutron irradiation study using boron phenylalanine, sodium borocaptate and liposomal borocaptate with a heterotopic U87 glioblastoma model in SCID mice

“…Neutrons in a narrow energy range (near the upper boundary of the epithermal range, from 0.5 eV to 30 keV) with a high flux density of 10 9 cm À2 s À1 are necessary for BNCT, and, until recently, the only neutron sources meeting these required parameters were specialized or remodeled nuclear reactors (Sauerwein et al 2012). However, construction of accelerators that could be used to conduct BNCT started in the 1990s (Anderson et al 1994) and, to date, several prototypes of purpose-built installations have already been created in different countries (Taskaev et al 2018;Taskaev 2019). The advantage of using an accelerator when conducting BNCT is the high content of epithermal neutrons in the irradiation beam (Kanygin et al 2015) which makes it possible to achieve maximum therapeutic effects with minimal negative effects of radiation.…”

Dose-Dependent Suppression of Human Glioblastoma Xenograft Growth by Accelerator-Based Boron Neutron Capture Therapy with Simultaneous Use of Two Boron-Containing Compounds

“…In order to develop new protocols to establish clinical-scale trials, the optimization of both compound and neutron beams are especially important in light of this shift away from reactor-based sources. We believe that, based on the results of previous trials at nuclear reactors and accelerator-based neutron sources by other research groups [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 43 , 53 , 54 ], as well as our own data [ 19 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 26 , 50 , 55 ], biodistribution of boron-containing compounds with regard to accelerator-based neutron sources is the current and well-reported future of BNCT [ 26 , 43 ]. It was thus necessary to continue the selection of optimal conditions for such experiments.…”

“…Based on a cyclotron, Sumitomo has successfully completed initial clinical testing of their facility (Phase II) and started patient treatment under the Japanese national health insurance system in 2020, using the first registered boron drug (Steboronine ® , produced by Stella Pharma, Inc., Tokyo, Japan) [ 12 , 16 , 17 ]. At the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics (BINP, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation), an original accelerator-based neutron source has been installed [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ] that meets BNCT requirements [ 1 , 6 ]. This accelerator is a prototype of the accelerator by TEA Life Sciences (Foothill Ranch, Lake Forest, CA, USA) that is being constructed for clinical use [ 14 ].…”

Gadolinium Neutron Capture Therapy for Cats and Dogs with Spontaneous Tumors Using Gd-DTPA

“…Since malignant tumors are a common cause of death in pets [48] and standard therapies do not always show satisfactory results, interest in using alternative therapies has increased. It has been shown previously that treating animals with spontaneous tumors using BNCT can be quite successful and justified [36,49]. Thus, conducting preclinical studies in large animals with spontaneous tumors is an important step to confirm the effectiveness of the method and potentially introduce it as a new treatment option in clinical practice.…”