Radiation effects of boron neutron capture therapy on brain, skin, and eye of rats

Journal Article · Wed Mar 30 00:00:00 EST 1994 · International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0360-3016(94)90482-0· OSTI ID:6820413

Matalka, K Z; Barth, R F; Bailey, M Q; Wilkie, D A; Koestner, A ^[1]; Hopewell, J W ^[2]

---

1. Ohio State Univ., Columbus, OH (United States)
2. Univ. of Oxford (United Kingdom)

The present study was carried out to evaluate the radiation effects of boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) on the brain, skin, and eyes of nude rats following systemic administration of boronophenylalanine (BPA) and neutron irradiation to the head. A solution containing 120 mg of [sup 10]B-enriched-L-BPA complexed with fructose was administered IP to nude rats. Boron concentrations were [approximately] 8.4, 9.4, 10.0, and 11.0 [mu]g/g in the brain, blood, skin, and eyes, respectively, at 6 h when the animals were irradiated at the Brookhaven Medical Research Reactor to cause tumor regression in nude rats carrying intracerebral implants of the human melanoma cell line MRA 27. Mild to moderate increases in loose fibrous tissue were observed in the choroid plexus at estimated physical doses to the brain and blood that ranged from 4.3-7.1 Gy and 4.6-7.7 Gy, respectively, and these appeared to be dose and time dependent. Other changes in the choroid plexus included occasional infiltrates of macrophages and polymorphonuclear leukocytes and vacuolation of epithelial cells. Dose-dependent moist desquamation of the skin was observed in all rats, but this had healed by 28 days following irradiation. Cataracts and keratitis developed in the eyes of most animals, and these were dose dependent. The minimal histopathological changes seen in the brain at doses that were sufficient to eradicate intracerebral melanoma indicates that BNCT has the potential to cure a tumor-bearing host without producing the normal brain injury usually associated with conventional external beam radiation therapy. Studies in canines, which currently are in progress, should further define the dose-effect relationships of BNCT on critical neuroanatomic structures within the brain. 42 refs., 4 figs., 3 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6820413
• Journal Information: International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics; (United States), Vol. 28:5; ISSN 0360-3016
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
BRAIN
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
EXPERIMENTAL NEOPLASMS
NEUTRON CAPTURE THERAPY
EYES
RATS
SKIN
BORON 10
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BODY
BODY AREAS
BORON ISOTOPES
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
FACE
HEAD
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MAMMALS
MEDICINE
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NEUTRON THERAPY
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
ORGANS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOLOGY
RADIOTHERAPY
RODENTS
SENSE ORGANS
STABLE ISOTOPES
THERAPY
VERTEBRATES
560152* - Radiation Effects on Animals- Animals
550603 - Medicine- External Radiation in Therapy- (1980-)