skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Radiobiology of boron neutron capture therapy: Problems with the concept of relative biological effectiveness

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5768887

The radiation dose delivered to cells in vitro or vivo during boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a mixture of photons, fast neutrons and heavy charged particles from the interaction of neutrons with nitrogen and born. The concept of relative biological effectiveness (RBE) had been developed to allow comparison of the effects of these radiations with the effects of standard photon treatments such as 250 kVp x-rays or {sup 60}Co gamma rays. The RBE value for all of these high linear energy transfer radiations can vary considerably depending upon the experimental conditions and endpoint utilized. The short range of the particles from the {sup 10}B(n,{alpha}) {sup 7}Li reaction make the precise subcellular location of the {sup 10}B atom of critical importance. The microscopic distribution of the {sup 10}B has a decided effect on the dosimetry. Monte Carlo simulations have shown that, at the cellular level, there is a profound difference in the probability of cell kill depending on the location of the {sup 10}B relative to the nucleus. Different boron-delivery agents will almost certainly have different distribution patterns at the subcellular level. The effect of BNCT with the amino acid p-boronophenylalanine (BPA) was compared with the effect of 250 kVp x-rays on a pigmented B16 melanoma subclone, both in vitro and in vivo. Generally accepted RBE values were applied to the relevant components of the Brookhaven Medical Research Reactor (BMRR) thermal neutron beam, however, there were still discrepancies when the resulting dose response curves were compared with the response to 250 kVp x-rays.

Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (USA)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-76CH00016
OSTI ID:
5768887
Report Number(s):
BNL-46149; CONF-901226-3; ON: DE91013807
Resource Relation:
Conference: 4. international symposium on neutron capture therapy, Sydney (Australia), 3-7 Dec 1990
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English