Group for Innovative Diagnostic and Therapeutic DeviceDivision of Research and Development for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy

Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) attracts lots of attention due to the excellent clinical outcome using research reactors. BNCT utilize the reaction between the boron (¹⁰B) and the neutrons since the boron has a large neutron capture cross-section. The reaction generates an alpha particle and a ⁷Li particle, and ranges of the generated particles are below 10 μm. Considering a size of the cancer cells, BNCT can be treated only the cancer cells in principle. Hence, the requisite number of neutrons is delivered to a patient after boron compounds is preloaded to the cancer cells. Additionally, since a relative biological effectiveness of BNCT is greater than that of conventional radiotherapies that use photons and electrons, BNCT is expected to effectively kill cancer cells that are resistant to the conventional radiotherapies. Therefore, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan, has been installed an accelerator-based BNCT system, and our stuff are arranging for the treatment.
Clinical, medical physics, and biological researches are conducted in our division to promote a better clinical outcome of BNCT. Our division collaborate with related departments of BNCT.

1. Clinical Researches：A phase I clinical trial for malignant melanoma and angiosarcoma is currently underway in collaboration with departments of Radiation Oncology, Radiation Safety and Quality Assurance division, and department of Dermatologic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. Clinical researches to expand the indications for BNCT are also planned.
2. Medical Physics Research: Our division collaborates division of Radiation Safety and Quality Assurance, and department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. Research and Development (including Commissioning) for the accelerator-based BNCT system has been performed to expand the application of BNCT. Preparation work for a multi-center clinical trial is also ongoing to support the clinical trials, the quality assurance of BNCT, and research proposals from Medical Physics. Additionally, medical physics researches are conducted to make BNCT a high-precision treatment.
3. Biological Researches: Our division collaborates departments of Radiation Oncology and Radiation Safety and Quality Assurance division, and departments of Diagnostic Pathology National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan, and external agencies and companies. Studies about biomarkers related to BNCT and radiation enhancers are performed. Additionally, biological experiments for BNCT have been performed using the accelerator-based BNCT system.

Member

Chief

Hiroshi Igaki

Physcian

Tairo Kashihara, Kimiteru Ito, Yoshitaka Narita, Seiichi Yoshimoto, Naoya Yamazaki

Researcher

Satoshi Nakamura, Tetsu Nakaichi, Masamichi Ishiai, Akihiro Yanagihara, Hana Endo

Research collaborator

Mitsuko Masutani, Shoji Imamichi, Hiroaki Kurihara, Mihiro Takemori

Research Topics

• A phase II clinical trial of BNCT for cutaneous angiosarcoma.
• A biomarker study of the phase II clinical trial of BNCT
• Study on the predictive ability of L-type amino acid transporter (LAT-1) antibody for BNCT
• Research and Development of accelerator-based BNCT system and the establishment of evaluation guidance of neutron beam quality
• Research for indications for BNCT using PET
• Research for implementation of BNCT safely and efficiently

Publications

See also Publications.

Contact

Division of Research and Development for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy
Exploratory Oncology Research & Clinical Trial Center （Tsukiji Campus）
Telephone：03-3542-2511
FAX：03-3547-5291