Inquiries What is BNCT?
Boron Neutron Capture Therapy, or BNCT, is an innovative form of radiotherapy that targets tumor cells in a highly selective manner. BNCT utilizes the nuclear reaction that occurs when boron isotope Boron-10 captures neutrons, yielding alpha particles and Lithium-7 particles, both of which have short-range lethality. The particles destroy the cancer cells without harming most of the surrounding tissue.
First, the patient is given an IV of a boron-containing solution. The boron compound uptake is higher in tumor tissue than in healthy tissue, meaning that the boron collects in the cancerous cells.
The cancer cells are then irradiated with low-energy thermal neutrons. The boron isotope captures these neutrons and a small nuclear reaction occurs that releases alpha particles and Lithium-7 particles which destroy the cells that contain the boron isotope. Because of their low energy, the particles cannot travel very far, limiting damage to the surrounding healthy tissue.
The short-range effectiveness of this reaction means that the adjacent healthy cells are not destroyed, resulting in fewer side effects, greater organ preservation, and an overall improved quality of life for the patient. This feature also enables BNCT to be a reliable treatment option for recurrent cancers, since it avoids repeated radiation exposure in healthy tissue. BNCT is particularly effective for treating recurrent breast cancer.
Key Features
For Breast Cancer
Edogawa Hospital is currently the only hospital in the world that offers BNCT as a treatment option for recurrent breast cancer. The procedure is less invasive than other treatments and can be used even if prior radiation treatments were unsuccessful.
Improved Quality of Life
BNCT is a highly targeted form of radiation therapy that destroys cancer cells by delivering charged particles at the intracellular level. This results in fewer side effects and reduces the number of days spent in the hospital following treatment. BNCT is a non-invasive, organ-preserving cancer treatment option.
For Recurrent Tumors
BNCT utilizes a reaction that yields high linear energy transfer (LET) from within the tumor cells that contain the boron isotopes. LET has a short effective range of 5-9μm, which means only the boron-containing tumor cells are destroyed, preserving healthy tissue. This minimizes the risks of repeated radiation exposure (such as severe late toxicity) in healthy tissue and enables repeated treatment for recurrent cancers.
How BNCT Differs from Other Treatment Options
The main difference between BNCT and conventional radiotherapy lies in the mechanism of action. Conventional radiotherapies use external X-ray beams or other types of radiation to target cancer tissue. The X-rays are so powerful that some of the healthy tissue surrounding the tumor is always affected. Proton beam therapy, which makes use of a property called the Bragg peak, also causes some impact on healthy tissue. BNCT irradiates tumor tissue with neutrons, producing ions that damage Boron-10-containing tumor cells from within, with little to no impact on surrounding healthy tissue.
| Type of Treatment | Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| BNCT | BNCT destroys tumor cells by creating a nuclear reaction which yields lethal proton particles inside the cell. | Little to no impact on surrounding healthy tissue, repeated treatment possible, few side effects. |
| X-ray | X-ray radiotherapy targets tumor cells by delivering an X-ray beam from outside of the body. | Non-invasive compared to surgeries and chemotherapy, low-cost compared to BNCT. |
| Proton Therapy | Proton therapy destroys tumor cells by delivering proton beams from outside of the body. | Minimized impact on healthy tissue compared to X-ray radiotherapy. |
Our Boron Compound
Our facility uses high-quality L-BPA injection made by Taiwan Biotech Co., Ltd. This solution contains 25 mg/mL of boron. So far, this boron compound has been successfully used on 343 patients (a total of 2,186 vials).
Side Effects
Common side effects associated with BNCT include hair loss, nausea, mucositis, parotitis, and oral pain. Compared to conventional radiation therapy, side effects are minimal. The collimator, which was developed to minimize side effects, may be used in accordance with the size and location of the lesion to further lessen side effects.
- ・Hair loss
- ・Nausea
- ・Fatigue
- ・Mucositis
- ・Dermatitis
Case Studies
BNCT is a relatively new method of radiation therapy. For additional information regarding BNCT, please read our case studies.
Contact Us
For additional information and any questions regarding BNCT,
please contact us via our Inquiries page. We are more than happy to help.
Contact Us
For additional information and any questions regarding BNCT,
please contact us via our Inquiries page. We are more than happy to help.