Boron Neutron Capture Therapy: Current Status and Challenges

Abstract

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a re-emerging therapy with the ability to selectively kill tumor cells. After the boron delivery agents enter the tumor tissue and enrich the tumor cells, the thermal neutrons trigger the fission of the boron atoms, leading to the release of boron atoms and then leading to the release of the α particles (4He) and recoil lithium particles (7Li), along with the production of large amounts of energy in the narrow region. With the advantages of targeted therapy and low toxicity, BNCT has become a unique method in the field of radiotherapy. Since the beginning of the last century, BNCT has been emerging worldwide and gradually developed into a technology for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme, head and neck cancer, malignant melanoma, and other cancers. At present, how to develop and innovate more efficient boron delivery agents and establish a more accurate boron-dose measurement system have become the problem faced by the development of BNCT. We discuss the use of boron delivery agents over the past several decades and the corresponding clinical trials and preclinical outcomes. Furthermore, the discussion brings recommendations on the future of boron delivery agents and this therapy.

A novel pH sensitive theranostic PLGA nanoparticle for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy in Mesothelioma treatment

“…This occurs also when the oligo-His is conjugated to a PLGA polymeric chain forming a stable nanoparticle. 28 This was demonstrated thanks to the presence of 14 N atoms of histidine causing a quadrupolar relaxation enhancement (also called Quadrupolar Peak, QP) at 1.39 MHz, well detectable using a Fast Field Cycling NMR relaxometer. 28 The relaxation enhancement is pH dependent in the range 6.5-7.5, thus it acts as a reporter of the nanoparticle or scaffold integrity.…”

“…These characteristics make BNCT a promising treatment for diffused metastasis and in ltrating tumours such as mesothelioma, that cannot be treated or are resistant to methods usually applicable in a localized tumour mass, such as conventional radiotherapy or surgery. 14 BNCT has been applied to skin melanoma, brain, head and neck tumours, and a large amount of clinical data has been collected through the different clinical trials (I/II phase) carried out in Japan, USA, Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Argentina, and Taiwan. 15,16 Nakamura and co-workers recently developed a hyaluronic acid containing sodium mercaptoundecaihydro-closododecaborate (BSH) speci cally delivered to MM in preclinical mouse models.…”

Organotrifluoroborate Sugar Conjugates for a Guided Boron Neutron Capture Therapy: From Synthesis to Positron Emission Tomography

“…BNCT is a binary approach to cancer treatment based on the concomitant administration of boron-containing molecules and irradiation with low-energy neutrons . The capture of a neutron by [ 10 B] atoms triggers a fission reaction that destroys the malignant cells.…”

“…BNCT is a binary approach to cancer treatment based on the concomitant administration of boron-containing molecules and irradiation with low-energy neutrons. 1 The capture of a neutron by [ 10 B] atoms triggers a fission reaction that destroys the malignant cells. To ensure the best therapeutic results, cancer irradiation should be performed when the concentration of the BNCT agent within the tumor is the highest possible, above 2 mM.…”

New luminescent organoboron esters based on damnacanthal: one-pot multicomponent synthesis, optical behavior, cytotoxicity, and selectivity studies against MDA-MBA-231 breast cancer cells

“…Recently, boron-based materials have been extensively studied in various biomedical fields 17 including antimicrobial therapy, 18 and cancer diagnosis and theraphy. 19,20 Likewise, boron derivatives with high therapeutic activity for the treatment of onychomycisis, 21 multiple myeloma, 22 atopic dermatitis, 23 and bacterial infections have also been reported. 24 Moreover, the combination of boron compounds with bioactive anthraquinones could enable the development of new molecules with enhanced biological properties, as reported by Kou 25 in the synthesis of other biogenic ligand-metal compounds with promising anticancer activity.…”