Accelerator-based boron neutron capture therapy facility at the Helsinki University Hospital

Authors:   Porra L., Seppälä T., Wendland L., Revitzer H., Joensuu H., Eide P., Koivunoro H., Smick N., Smick T., Tenhunen M.
Journal: Acta Oncologica
https://doi.org/10.1080/0284186x.2021.1979646
Abstract: Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a unique type of radiation therapy that enables biological targeting of cancer at the cellular level. BNCT has been used to treat cancer with a two-step process. First, the patient receives a tumor-seeking drug containing a non-radioactive enriched boron (10B). Secondly, the target is exposed to low energy neutrons, which are captured by the 10B atoms. Due to the higher boron carrier accumulation in tumor cells, BNCT causes large dose gradients between cancerous and normal tissue. BNCT can be used to treat tissues that have previously been irradiated with conventional radiotherapy, and tumors that are located next to sensitive organs, like the eyes, the brain stem or the spinal cord