Gadolinium neutron capture (GdNC)

Gadolinium neutron capture refers to the nuclear process in which the stable isotope gadolinium-157 (^157Gd) absorbs a thermal neutron, producing ^158Gd and emitting gamma rays plus internal conversion and Auger electrons. This process forms the basis of gadolinium neutron capture therapy (GdNCT), an experimental approach to cancer treatment aimed at selectively killing tumor cells that have taken up gadolinium-containing compounds by irradiating them with neutrons. Gadolinium compounds, many derived from MRI contrast agents, have been explored as delivery vehicles, but challenges in achieving sufficient tumor-specific accumulation and clinical efficacy have limited translation. The process itself is not a molecular target (e.g., it is not a receptor, enzyme, or protein) but rather a physical/chemical mechanism of interest in radiotherapy research[1][4][6][7]. Additional clarification: - "Gadolinium neutron capture" is a process and not a unique molecular entity or canonical target like a receptor or enzyme. Therefore, it is not considered a therapeutic *target*, but rather a mechanism exploited in certain therapies, primarily experimental radiotherapies such as GdNCT[1][4][7]. - This entry is flagged as *incorrect* as a canonical "target" entry because it does not refer to a distinct biomolecular target; instead, it is a radiophysical reaction/process.

Other names

Gadolinium neutron capture therapyGd neutron captureGadolinium-157 neutron captureGdNCTGd-NCT

Neutron capture by gadolinium-157 (^157Gd) results in emission of gamma rays and internal conversion/Auger electrons, leading to localized DNA damage and cancer cell death, if delivered to tumor cells[1][4][6][7]