Author ORCID Identifier
https://orcid.org/0009-0005-7577-7732 - Dominik Dziura
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6848-2497 - DrewMarquardt
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-2023
Publication Title
Canadian Journal of Physics
Volume
2023
Issue
1
Keywords
accelerator-based neutron production, boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), cancer therapy, cancer, compact accelerator neutron source (CANS)
Abstract
Each year more than 3000 Canadians are diagnosed with brain cancers like glioblastoma multiforme or recurrent head and neck cancers, which are difficult to treat with conventional radiotherapy techniques. One of the most clinically promising treatments for these cancers is boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). This procedure involves selectively introducing a boron delivery agent into tumor cells and irradiating them with a neutron beam, which kills the cancer cells due to the high-linear energy transfer radiation produced by the 10B(n,α)7Li capture reaction. The theory of BNCT has been around for a long time since 1936, but has historically been limited by poor boron delivery agents and non-optimal neutron source facilities. Although significant improvements have been made in both of these domains, it is mainly the advancements of accelerator-based neutron sources that have led to the expansion of over 20 new BNCT facilities worldwide in the past decade. Additionally in this work, particle and heavy ion transport code system simulations, in collaboration with the University of Tsukuba, were performed to examine the effectiveness of the Ibaraki BNCT beam shaping assembly to moderate a neutron beam suitable for BNCT at the proposed prototype Canadian compact accelerator-based neutron source (CANS) site, which uses a similar but slightly higher energy 10MeV proton accelerator with a 1mA average current. The advancements of CANSs in recent decades have enabled significant improvements in BNCT technologies, allowing it to become a more viable clinical treatment option.
DOI
dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjp-2022-0266
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Dziura, Dominik; Tabbassum, Sana; MacNeil, Amanda; Maharaj, Dalini D.; Laxdal, Robert; Kester, Oliver; Pan, Ming; Kumada, Hiroaki; and Marquardt, Drew. (2023). Boron neutron capture therapy in the new age of accelerator-based neutron production and preliminary progress in Canada. Canadian Journal of Physics, 2023 (1).
https://scholar.uwindsor.ca/chemistrybiochemistrypub/327