BORON NEUTRON-CAPTURE THERAPY OF CANCERS - NUCLEIC BASES, NUCLEOSIDES, AND OLIGONUCLEOTIDES AS POTENTIAL BORON CARRIERS

Basic principle and practice of boron neutron capture therapy of cance rs (BNCT) is described. Boron modified oligonucleotides and their comp onents, nucleosides and nucleic bases, and in particular derivatives c ontaining boron cluster ligands are discussed. Boron bearing oligonucl eotides are potentially tumor specific, boron rich carrier molecules f or BNCT. They may find application as antisense agents for antisense o ligonucleotide thera py (AOT) of cancers a nd viral infections, and as molecular probes for diagnosis of genetic diseases.