Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is an intracellular targeted radiotherapy based on nuclear capture reactions when nonradioactive boron (10B) is irradiated with low-energy thermal neutrons of energy to produce high-energy alpha particles (4He2+) and lithium (7Li) nuclei. The action of alpha particles and 7Li nuclei is mainly restricted to boron-containing cells, as their path length is approximately equal to one cell diameter (< 10 µm). A boron carrier such as L-boronophenylalanine (BPA), a phenylalanine derivative, is preferentially accumulated in tumor cells. Thus, this approach may be an ideal way for cancer treatment. BNCT was used to treat recurrent brain tumors and head and neck tumors after conventional photon therapy. High response rates (60%–83%) with acceptable toxicity have been observed in both the single-fraction and 2-fraction designs for head and neck tumors. The most common neutron source for these treatments has remained the nuclear reactor over the past few decades. But recently, accelerator-based BNCT(AB-BNCT) has been developed around the world and clinical trials were done in Japan. With this new treatment modality, more patients could be treated by AB-BNCT installed in the hospital. Furthermore, due to the more optimized neutron dose distribution in vivo, this new modality could also be used to manage disease sites other than brain tumors and head and neck tumors.
We aim to promote the application of BNCT with recent research results related to new neutron sources or new boron drugs or new indications, and related trials combined with BNCT and other treatment techniques are also favored. We welcome submissions covering but are not limited to the followings:
1) The effect of accelerator-based BNCT (AB-BNCT) on cancer treatment
2) Tumor pathology with reactor-based or accelerator-based BNCT
3) New drugs as boron carriers for BNCT in cancer treatment (in vivo studies)
4) Novel strategies for combining BNCT with other anti-cancer modalities
5) New findings related to BNCT clinical research
Please note: manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases which are not accompanied by validation (independent cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) are out of scope for this section and will not be accepted as part of this Research Topic.
Topic editor Dr. Hanna Koivunoro is employed by Neutron Therapeutics Finland (and declares no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic Subject). All other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic subject.
Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is an intracellular targeted radiotherapy based on nuclear capture reactions when nonradioactive boron (10B) is irradiated with low-energy thermal neutrons of energy to produce high-energy alpha particles (4He2+) and lithium (7Li) nuclei. The action of alpha particles and 7Li nuclei is mainly restricted to boron-containing cells, as their path length is approximately equal to one cell diameter (< 10 µm). A boron carrier such as L-boronophenylalanine (BPA), a phenylalanine derivative, is preferentially accumulated in tumor cells. Thus, this approach may be an ideal way for cancer treatment. BNCT was used to treat recurrent brain tumors and head and neck tumors after conventional photon therapy. High response rates (60%–83%) with acceptable toxicity have been observed in both the single-fraction and 2-fraction designs for head and neck tumors. The most common neutron source for these treatments has remained the nuclear reactor over the past few decades. But recently, accelerator-based BNCT(AB-BNCT) has been developed around the world and clinical trials were done in Japan. With this new treatment modality, more patients could be treated by AB-BNCT installed in the hospital. Furthermore, due to the more optimized neutron dose distribution in vivo, this new modality could also be used to manage disease sites other than brain tumors and head and neck tumors.
We aim to promote the application of BNCT with recent research results related to new neutron sources or new boron drugs or new indications, and related trials combined with BNCT and other treatment techniques are also favored. We welcome submissions covering but are not limited to the followings:
1) The effect of accelerator-based BNCT (AB-BNCT) on cancer treatment
2) Tumor pathology with reactor-based or accelerator-based BNCT
3) New drugs as boron carriers for BNCT in cancer treatment (in vivo studies)
4) Novel strategies for combining BNCT with other anti-cancer modalities
5) New findings related to BNCT clinical research
Please note: manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases which are not accompanied by validation (independent cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) are out of scope for this section and will not be accepted as part of this Research Topic.
Topic editor Dr. Hanna Koivunoro is employed by Neutron Therapeutics Finland (and declares no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic Subject). All other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic subject.
