Neutron capture therapy in support of other radiation treatment.

Abstract

Neutron capture therapy (NCT) appears potentially useful, not only as a treatment modality per se, but also as an adjuvant in the context of established clinical measures to control pathological growth. Since the probability of local control is a steep function of absorbed dose, even a modest specific exposure of neoplasms by such techniques would significantly increase the chances of cure. Such a prospect seems most natural in fast neutron therapy 1,2,3 where slow neutrons are automatically available in the target area. As a promising alternative, it would be possible to combine the use of protons or heavier ions with a booster therapy based on boron compounds and intermediate-energy neutrons.4 Such a situation would be particularly relevant when there are needs both for the precision of heavy charged-particle beams--permitting tailored 3-dimensional dose plans for the treatment of structures visible by computerized imaging methods--and for the particular features of NCT that also aim at eradication of invisible but suspected microsopic growth in larger anatomical regions.