Clinical trial of BNCT for glioblastoma multiforme
- 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--
- Journal Information:
- Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society Vol. 75; ISSN TANSAO; ISSN 0003-018X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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