ENHANCEMENT OF FAST-NEUTRON BEAMS WITH BORON NEUTRON-CAPTURE THERAPY - A MECHANISM FOR ACHIEVING A SELECTIVE, CONCOMITANT TUMOR BOOST

Both fast neutron radiotherapy and boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT ) have been utilized to treat malignant disease. Herein we discuss the potential of combining these treatments to enhance the effectiveness of fast neutron therapy through a concomitant BNCT boost. Using a fast neutron beam generated from a 50 MeV proton on beryllium reaction, me have determined that 0.1% of the beam per microgram of boron-10 per g ram of tissue (mu g/g) can be deposited via BNCT. Our mathematical mod eling predicts that BNCT enhancement of our beam will lead to an addit ional 1-2 logs of tumor cell kill for boron-10 concentrations of 30-50 mu g/g. We have validated this via V-79 cell line in vitro measuremen ts. A Poisson model estimation of how this additional cell kill will i nfluence local tumor control, predicts that BNCT enhancement of fast n eutron radiation will lead to a clinically significant improvement in outcome.