Boron neutron capture therapy target in tumor cells (BNCT target)

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a targeted radiotherapy modality in which tumor cells are preferentially loaded with boron-10 containing compounds. Upon irradiation with low-energy neutrons, these cells undergo a nuclear reaction where boron-10 captures a neutron, producing high-energy alpha particles and lithium ions that have highly localized destructive effects, ideally limited to boron-enriched cells within the tumor. The process relies on the selective uptake and retention of boron delivery agents in the malignancy, with drugs such as boronophenylalanine (BPA) and sodium borocaptate (BSH) being the most commonly used agents[6][7][4]. BNCT has shown promise in the treatment of glioblastoma, head and neck cancers, and malignant melanoma, especially in cases resistant to conventional therapies, but its clinical utility depends on effective tumor selectivity, minimizing risks to surrounding normal tissue, and the presence of sufficient neutron source technology[2][6][7][8][1]. The "target" in BNCT is not a single molecule or receptor, but any cancer cell that has internalized adequate levels of boron-10 for therapeutic neutron-induced destruction.

Other names

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) targetBNCT-enriched tumor cellBoron-10 containing tumor cell

Selective accumulation of boron-10 compound in tumor cells; Irradiation with thermal neutrons triggers nuclear capture reactions: ^10B + n → α + ^7Li; Emission of high-energy alpha and lithium particles causes localized tumor cell DNA damage and cell death