Optimizing Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) to Treat Cancer: An Updated Review on the Latest Developments on Boron Compounds and Strategies

Abstract

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a tumor-selective particle radiotherapy. It combines preferential boron accumulation in tumors and neutron irradiation. The recent initiation of BNCT clinical trials employing hospital-based accelerators rather than nuclear reactors as the neutron source will conceivably pave the way for new and more numerous clinical trials, leading up to much-needed randomized trials. In this context, it would be interesting to consider the implementation of new boron compounds and strategies that will significantly optimize BNCT. With this aim in mind, we analyzed, in this review, those articles published between 2020 and 2023 reporting new boron compounds and strategies that were proved therapeutically useful in in vitro and/or in vivo radiobiological studies, a critical step for translation to a clinical setting. We also explored new pathologies that could potentially be treated with BNCT and newly developed theranostic boron agents. All these radiobiological advances intend to solve those limitations and questions that arise during patient treatment in the clinical field, with BNCT and other therapies. In this sense, active communication between clinicians, radiobiologists, and all disciplines will improve BNCT for cancer patients, in a cost- and time-effective way.

Prognostic assessment of 18F-boronophenylalanine positron emission tomography (BPA-PET) in salvage boron neutron capture therapy for malignant brain tumors

“…Using accelerator-based BNCT combined with BPA as a boron-carrying drug to treat locally recurrent head and neck cancer was approved in Japan in 2020 based on clinic trial results ( 28 - 30 ). In BPA-based BNCT, BPA-PET is crucial to estimate Boron-concentration quantitatively in the target tumors and surrounding normal tissue before BNCT ( 31 - 33 ). Our results could emphasize the use of BPA-PET before BNCT.…”

Development of theranostics albumin auristatin conjugates for combining chemotherapy with boron neutron capture therapy

“…IR spectra were recorded in the range 4000-400 cm -1 using a Genesys 64 v/vis spectrometer. 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR and 19 F NMR spectra were recorded on AV-300, AV-400, AV-600 NMR spectrometer (Bruker, Germany). The spectra were detected at 25°C in 5 mm NMR sample tubes.…”

“…Current anticancer research shows that a combination of multiple treatment methods can greatly improve the killing of tumor cells. It is speculated that combining chemotherapy with boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) can provide good therapy e cacy and is of great relevance today [18,19]. BNCT, in which drugs containing enriched boron are accumulated in tumor cells followed by their neutron beam radiation offers an advantage over conventional chemo-and radiotherapies as it selectively targets tumor cells.…”

Targeting the organelle for radiosensitization in cancer radiotherapy

“…Furthermore, clinical studies investigating BNCT were and are being conducted globally, spanning countries such as Japan, the United States, European Consortium nations, Italy, Finland, the Netherlands, Sweden, and China, among others. These trials encompass a range of cancers, including glioblastoma, head and neck cancer, and melanoma, among others [24] , [25] , [26] , [27] , [28] . The active research and development of new boron compounds and the introduction of accelerators as neutron sources that could be installed in hospitals underscore BNCT's status as a novel and effective RT modality, holding promise for the future of cancer treatment.…”