Boron neutron-capture therapy

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Abstract
Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) is a method of radiation therapy based on the 10B(n,4He)7Li reaction that shows promise in the treatment of some malignant tumors of the brain and of the skin. Considerable research on neutron beam development and on the chemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of boron-containing drugs for BNCT is in progress. BNCT with thermal neutrons may play a useful role as an adjunct therapy for localized malignant melanomas of the skin. BNCT with epithermal neutrons should improve the prognosis of patients with unifocal cerebral malignant gliomas. Several boron-containing drugs now available will enable clinical trials of BNCT for cerebral gliomas to begin within the next several years. Whether BNCT will be curative rather than palliative for most tumors so treated is arguable. However, present evidence suggests that BNCT should be beneficial in some clinical situations for which other methods of radiation therapy offer little benefit.