Monte Carlo simulation of biological effects of boron neutron capture irradiation with d(14)+Be neutrons in vitro
- Univ. of Essen (Germany)
It was shown that radiation effects in tumor cells treated with fast neutrons may be increased by the neutron capture reaction {sup 10}B(n,{alpha}){sup 7}Li. The classic approach for macroscopic dosimetry in fast-neutron therapy cannot be applied to the dose in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). The effectiveness of BNCT in killing tumor cells depends on the number of {sup 10}B atoms delivered to the tumor, the subcellular distribution of {sup 10}B and the thermal neutron fluence at the site of the tumor. Monte Carlo calculations of the energy dispositions of short-range particles with high LET coming from {sup 10}B disintegrations were performed and compared to the observed biological effects. The simulation allows us to study the influence of the localization of intracellular {sup 10}B in the nucleus, cytoplasm, plasma membrane or extracellular space. The biological response function which describes the probability of the lethal effect produced by a single particle track through the cell nucleus was found by comparing the calculated microscopic dose distribution spectra for single events with the survival observed experimentally. Calculations for a human melanoma cell population treated as a monolayer in the presence or absence of boron with d(14)+Be neutrons will be demonstrated. Two different boron compounds enriched in {sup 10}B were investigated in this study: boric acid (H{sub 3}{sup 10}BO{sub 3}) and p-dihydroxyboryl phenylalanine (BPA). The study shows that a high fraction of BPA enters the cytoplasm while boric acid was found only in the extracellular space. The computer simulations indicate that BPA yields a higher potential effectiveness for inactivation of melanoma cells than boric acid. 52 refs., 9 figs., 3 tabs.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 86335
- Journal Information:
- Radiation Research, Vol. 142, Issue 1; Other Information: PBD: Apr 1995
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Microdosimetric calculations of boron-drug compound factors for boron neutron capture therapy
A nude rat model for neutron capture therapy of human intracerebral melanoma