Boron Neutron Capture Therapy research in Pavia, Italy

Boron Neutron Capture Therapy is an experimental form of radio- therapy based on the enrichment of tumor cells with 10 B and on the subsequent irradiation with thermal neutrons. The neutron capture reaction in 10 B gives rise to two high-LET particles which can deliver a lethal dose to the tumor, substantially sparing the normal tissues. The selectivity of the therapy is due to the capacity of certain drugs to vehiculate the boron inside the tumor more than in the normal cells. This characteristic makes BNCT an option for tumors that have presently no cure, because surgery, conventional radiotherapy or chemotherapy are not applicable or are not much effective. One of these cases is represented by diffuse tumors, such as metastatic spreads invading entire organs. At the University of Pavia, a long research has been carried out to apply BNCT to different kinds of diffuse tumors, such as liver metastases. Two patients affected by this pathology were treated at the TRIGA reactor of the University. This paper describes the state-of-art of BNCT research in Pavia and the recent project for BNCT of osteosarcoma.