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Title: Clinical trial of BNCT for glioblastoma multiforme

Journal Article · · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society
OSTI ID:426308
; ; ;  [1]
  1. Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (United States); and others

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a binary treatment modality that can selectively irradiate tumor tissue. BNCT uses drugs containing a stable isotope of boron, {sup 10}B, to sensitize tumor cells to irradiation by low-energy (thermal) neutrons. The interaction of the {sup 10}B with a thermal neutron (neutron capture) causes the {sup 10}B nucleus to split, releasing an alpha particle and a lithium nucleus. These products of the {sup 10}B(n,a){sup 7}Li reaction are very damaging to cells but have a combined path length in tissue of {approx}14{mu}m, or roughly the diameter of one or two cells. Thus, most of the ionizing energy imparted to tissue is localized to {sup 10}B-loaded cells, and it is the distribution pattern of the boron compound that is the key to the effectiveness of BNCT. Based on extensive preclinical studies, a phase I/II clinical trial of BNCT for patients with a highly malignant type of brain tumor, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), was initiated using the epithermal neutron beam of the Brookhaven Medical Research Reactor. The objectives of the phase I/II clinical trial are: 1. to determine the safety of a series of escalating BNCT doses using a boronated amino acid (BPA) and epithermal neutrons; 2. to evaluate any adverse effects of BNCT at each dose level; 3. to evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of each BNCT dose level in patients with GBM.

OSTI ID:
426308
Report Number(s):
CONF-961103-; ISSN 0003-018X; TRN: 96:006307-0028
Journal Information:
Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, Vol. 75; Conference: Winter meeting of the American Nuclear Society (ANS) and the European Nuclear Society (ENS), Washington, DC (United States), 10-14 Nov 1996; Other Information: PBD: 1996
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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