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The rationale and requirements for the development of boron neutron capture therapy of brain tumors

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Abstract

The dismal clinical results in the treatment ofglioblastoma multiforme despite aggressive surgery, conventional radiotherapy, andchemotherapy, either alone or in combination has ledto the development of alternative therapeutic modalities. Amongthese is boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). Thisbinary system is based upon two key requirements:(1) the development and use of neutron beamsfrom nuclear reactors or other sources with thecapability for delivering high fluxes of thermal neutronsat depths sufficient to reach all tumor foci,and (2) the development and synthesis of boroncompounds that can penetrate the normal blood-brain barrier,selectively target neoplastic cells, and persist therein forsuitable periods of time prior to irradiation. Theearlier clinical failures with BNCT related directly tothe lack of tissue penetration by neutron beamsand to boron compounds that showed little specificityfor and low retention by tumor cells, whileattaining high concentrations in blood. Progress has beenmade both in neutron beam and compound development,but it remains to be determined whether theseare sufficient to improve therapeutic outcomes by BNCTin comparison with current therapeutic regimens for thetreatment of malignant gliomas.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, 43210, USA

    Albert H. Soloway, Rolf F. Barth, Reinhard A. Gahbauer, Thomas E. Blue & Joseph H. Goodman

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  2. Rolf F. Barth
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Soloway, A.H., Barth, R.F., Gahbauer, R.A. et al. The rationale and requirements for the development of boron neutron capture therapy of brain tumors. J Neurooncol 33, 09–18 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005753610355

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