We have applied boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) to malignant brain tumors. Here we evaluated the survival benefit of BNCT for recurrent malignant glioma (MG). Since 2002, we have treated 22 cases of recurrent MG with BNCT. Survival time was analyzed with special reference to recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) classification, by Carson et al. (J Clin Oncol 25:2601-2606, 2007). Median survival times (MSTs) after BNCT for all patients and for glioblastoma as on-study histology at recurrence was 10.8 months (n = 22; 95% CI, 7.3-12.8 months) and 9.6 months (n = 19; 95% CI, 6.9-11.4 months), respectively. In our study, MST for the high-risk RPA classes was 9.1 months (n = 11; 95% CI, 4.4-11.0 months). By contrast, the original journal data showed that the MST of the same RPA classes was 4.4 months (n = 129; 95% CI, 3.6-5.4 months). BNCT showed a survival benefit for recurrent MG, especially in the high-risk group.

No abstract

This modified BNCT produced a good improvement in malignant gliomas, as seen on neuroimages.

In order to improve the effectiveness of boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) for malignant gliomas, we examined the optimization of the administration of boron compounds in brain tumor animal model. We analyzed the concentration of boron atoms in intracranial C6 glioma -bearing rats using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Each tumor-bearing rat received one of two different amounts of sodium borocaptate (BSH) and/or 500 mg/kg of boronophenylalanine (BPA) via intraperitoneal injection. We compared the boron concentrations of the tumor, the contralateral normal brain and the blood in rats of 3 different treatment groups (BSH alone, BPA alone and a combination of both BSH and BPA). Our results show that the tumor boron concentration increased much more than 30 microg/g by the coadministration of both compounds. Additionally, the blood boron concentration remained below 30 microg/g and the boron concentration in the normal brain was low (mean 4.7+/-1.1 microg/g). Even in comparison with the administration of BPA alone, coadministration of BPA and BSH shows an improved tumor/normal brain ratio of boron concentrations.

TF-PEG-BSH is a potent BDS for BNCT not only in terms of delivering a high concentration of (10)B into tumor tissue, but also the selective delivery of (10)B into the tumor cells.