The interpretation of dose calculations and cell-survival measurements for the boron neutron capture therapy of brain tumours with 24 keV neutrons

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Abstract
Monte-Carlo computer codes have been used to estimate the distribution of doses to borated and unborated tissues in head-sized phantoms when exposed to beams of 2 keV and 24 keV neutrons. For the application of such beams to boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) these calculations show the superiority of 2 keV neutrons over 24 keV neutrons and the importance of using large-area beams. A 24 keV neutron beam has been used to irradiate HeLa cell cultures in vitro, with and without the addition of 10B, at various depths within a narrow polyethylene phantom. Survival data obtained from these experiments have been used to estimate depth-damage profiles for normal (unboronated) and tumour (boronated) brain tissues when exposed to 24 keV neutrons. A good differential between damage to normal and tumorous tissue is obtained under suitable irradiation conditions. Although lower–energy neutrons are probably preferable, these results demonstrate the possibility of using beams of 24 keV neutrons for the BNCT of brain tumours.