Dosimetry and radiobiology at the new RA-3 reactor boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) facility: Application to the treatment of experimental oral cancer

E. Pozzi; D. W. Nigg; M. Miller; S. I. Thorp; E. M. Heber; L. Zarza; G. Estryk; A. Monti Hughes; A. J. Molinari; M. Garabalino; M. E. Itoiz; R. F. Aromando; J. Quintana; V. A. Trivillin; A. E. Schwint

doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2009.03.069

Dosimetry and radiobiology at the new RA-3 reactor boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) facility: Application to the treatment of experimental oral cancer

E. Pozzi, D. W. Nigg, M. Miller, S. I. Thorp, E. M. Heber, L. Zarza, G. Estryk, A. Monti Hughes, A. J. Molinari, M. Garabalino, M. E. Itoiz, R. F. Aromando, J. Quintana, V. A. Trivillin, A. E. Schwint

Reactor System Design and Analysis

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

The National Atomic Energy Commission of Argentina (CNEA) constructed a novel thermal neutron source for use in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) applications at the RA-3 research reactor facility located in Buenos Aires. The aim of the present study was to perform a dosimetric characterization of the facility and undertake radiobiological studies of BNCT in an experimental model of oral cancer in the hamster cheek pouch. The free-field thermal flux was 7.1×10⁹ n cm^-2 s^-1 and the fast neutron flux was 2.5×10⁶ n cm^-2 s^-1, indicating a very well-thermalized neutron field with negligible fast neutron dose. For radiobiological studies it was necessary to shield the body of the hamster from the neutron flux while exposing the everted cheek pouch bearing the tumors. To that end we developed a lithium (enriched to 95% in ⁶Li) carbonate enclosure. Groups of tumor-bearing hamsters were submitted to BPA-BNCT, GB-10-BNCT, (GB-10+BPA)-BNCT or beam only treatments. Normal (non-cancerized) hamsters were treated similarly to evaluate normal tissue radiotoxicity. The total physical dose delivered to tumor with the BNCT treatments ranged from 6 to 8.5 Gy. Tumor control at 30 days ranged from 73% to 85%, with no normal tissue radiotoxicity. Significant but reversible mucositis in precancerous tissue surrounding tumors was associated to BPA-BNCT. The therapeutic success of different BNCT protocols in treating experimental oral cancer at this novel facility was unequivocally demonstrated.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	S309-S312
Journal	Applied Radiation and Isotopes
Volume	67
Issue number	7-8 SUPPL.
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2009.03.069
State	Published - Jul 2009

Keywords

BNCT
Hamster cheek pouch
Lithium-6 shielding
Oral cancer
RA-3 reactor

Access to Document

10.1016/j.apradiso.2009.03.069

Cite this

Pozzi, E., Nigg, D. W., Miller, M., Thorp, S. I., Heber, E. M., Zarza, L., Estryk, G., Monti Hughes, A., Molinari, A. J., Garabalino, M., Itoiz, M. E., Aromando, R. F., Quintana, J., Trivillin, V. A., & Schwint, A. E. (2009). Dosimetry and radiobiology at the new RA-3 reactor boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) facility: Application to the treatment of experimental oral cancer. Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 67(7-8 SUPPL.), S309-S312. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2009.03.069

@article{4a0643e56aeb4acaaad48cf393c9f56d,

title = "Dosimetry and radiobiology at the new RA-3 reactor boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) facility: Application to the treatment of experimental oral cancer",

abstract = "The National Atomic Energy Commission of Argentina (CNEA) constructed a novel thermal neutron source for use in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) applications at the RA-3 research reactor facility located in Buenos Aires. The aim of the present study was to perform a dosimetric characterization of the facility and undertake radiobiological studies of BNCT in an experimental model of oral cancer in the hamster cheek pouch. The free-field thermal flux was 7.1×109 n cm-2 s-1 and the fast neutron flux was 2.5×106 n cm-2 s-1, indicating a very well-thermalized neutron field with negligible fast neutron dose. For radiobiological studies it was necessary to shield the body of the hamster from the neutron flux while exposing the everted cheek pouch bearing the tumors. To that end we developed a lithium (enriched to 95% in 6Li) carbonate enclosure. Groups of tumor-bearing hamsters were submitted to BPA-BNCT, GB-10-BNCT, (GB-10+BPA)-BNCT or beam only treatments. Normal (non-cancerized) hamsters were treated similarly to evaluate normal tissue radiotoxicity. The total physical dose delivered to tumor with the BNCT treatments ranged from 6 to 8.5 Gy. Tumor control at 30 days ranged from 73% to 85%, with no normal tissue radiotoxicity. Significant but reversible mucositis in precancerous tissue surrounding tumors was associated to BPA-BNCT. The therapeutic success of different BNCT protocols in treating experimental oral cancer at this novel facility was unequivocally demonstrated.",

keywords = "BNCT, Hamster cheek pouch, Lithium-6 shielding, Oral cancer, RA-3 reactor",

author = "E. Pozzi and Nigg, {D. W.} and M. Miller and Thorp, {S. I.} and Heber, {E. M.} and L. Zarza and G. Estryk and {Monti Hughes}, A. and Molinari, {A. J.} and M. Garabalino and Itoiz, {M. E.} and Aromando, {R. F.} and J. Quintana and Trivillin, {V. A.} and Schwint, {A. E.}",

note = "Funding Information: This work was partially supported by DOE, US, through INL and Grant PICT2006-00700–ANPCyT. The authors are indebted to the expert Maintenance, Radioprotection and Operation teams of RA-3.",

year = "2009",

month = jul,

doi = "10.1016/j.apradiso.2009.03.069",

language = "English",

volume = "67",

pages = "S309--S312",

journal = "Applied Radiation and Isotopes",

issn = "0969-8043",

publisher = "Elsevier Ltd",

number = "7-8 SUPPL.",

}

Pozzi, E, Nigg, DW, Miller, M, Thorp, SI, Heber, EM, Zarza, L, Estryk, G, Monti Hughes, A, Molinari, AJ, Garabalino, M, Itoiz, ME, Aromando, RF, Quintana, J, Trivillin, VA & Schwint, AE 2009, 'Dosimetry and radiobiology at the new RA-3 reactor boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) facility: Application to the treatment of experimental oral cancer', Applied Radiation and Isotopes, vol. 67, no. 7-8 SUPPL., pp. S309-S312. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2009.03.069

TY - JOUR

T1 - Dosimetry and radiobiology at the new RA-3 reactor boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) facility

T2 - Application to the treatment of experimental oral cancer

AU - Pozzi, E.

AU - Nigg, D. W.

AU - Miller, M.

AU - Thorp, S. I.

AU - Heber, E. M.

AU - Zarza, L.

AU - Estryk, G.

AU - Monti Hughes, A.

AU - Molinari, A. J.

AU - Garabalino, M.

AU - Itoiz, M. E.

AU - Aromando, R. F.

AU - Quintana, J.

AU - Trivillin, V. A.

AU - Schwint, A. E.

N1 - Funding Information: This work was partially supported by DOE, US, through INL and Grant PICT2006-00700–ANPCyT. The authors are indebted to the expert Maintenance, Radioprotection and Operation teams of RA-3.

PY - 2009/7

Y1 - 2009/7

N2 - The National Atomic Energy Commission of Argentina (CNEA) constructed a novel thermal neutron source for use in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) applications at the RA-3 research reactor facility located in Buenos Aires. The aim of the present study was to perform a dosimetric characterization of the facility and undertake radiobiological studies of BNCT in an experimental model of oral cancer in the hamster cheek pouch. The free-field thermal flux was 7.1×109 n cm-2 s-1 and the fast neutron flux was 2.5×106 n cm-2 s-1, indicating a very well-thermalized neutron field with negligible fast neutron dose. For radiobiological studies it was necessary to shield the body of the hamster from the neutron flux while exposing the everted cheek pouch bearing the tumors. To that end we developed a lithium (enriched to 95% in 6Li) carbonate enclosure. Groups of tumor-bearing hamsters were submitted to BPA-BNCT, GB-10-BNCT, (GB-10+BPA)-BNCT or beam only treatments. Normal (non-cancerized) hamsters were treated similarly to evaluate normal tissue radiotoxicity. The total physical dose delivered to tumor with the BNCT treatments ranged from 6 to 8.5 Gy. Tumor control at 30 days ranged from 73% to 85%, with no normal tissue radiotoxicity. Significant but reversible mucositis in precancerous tissue surrounding tumors was associated to BPA-BNCT. The therapeutic success of different BNCT protocols in treating experimental oral cancer at this novel facility was unequivocally demonstrated.

AB - The National Atomic Energy Commission of Argentina (CNEA) constructed a novel thermal neutron source for use in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) applications at the RA-3 research reactor facility located in Buenos Aires. The aim of the present study was to perform a dosimetric characterization of the facility and undertake radiobiological studies of BNCT in an experimental model of oral cancer in the hamster cheek pouch. The free-field thermal flux was 7.1×109 n cm-2 s-1 and the fast neutron flux was 2.5×106 n cm-2 s-1, indicating a very well-thermalized neutron field with negligible fast neutron dose. For radiobiological studies it was necessary to shield the body of the hamster from the neutron flux while exposing the everted cheek pouch bearing the tumors. To that end we developed a lithium (enriched to 95% in 6Li) carbonate enclosure. Groups of tumor-bearing hamsters were submitted to BPA-BNCT, GB-10-BNCT, (GB-10+BPA)-BNCT or beam only treatments. Normal (non-cancerized) hamsters were treated similarly to evaluate normal tissue radiotoxicity. The total physical dose delivered to tumor with the BNCT treatments ranged from 6 to 8.5 Gy. Tumor control at 30 days ranged from 73% to 85%, with no normal tissue radiotoxicity. Significant but reversible mucositis in precancerous tissue surrounding tumors was associated to BPA-BNCT. The therapeutic success of different BNCT protocols in treating experimental oral cancer at this novel facility was unequivocally demonstrated.

KW - BNCT

KW - Hamster cheek pouch

KW - Lithium-6 shielding

KW - Oral cancer

KW - RA-3 reactor

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=67649413118&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.apradiso.2009.03.069

DO - 10.1016/j.apradiso.2009.03.069

M3 - Article

C2 - 19380233

AN - SCOPUS:67649413118

SN - 0969-8043

VL - 67

SP - S309-S312

JO - Applied Radiation and Isotopes

JF - Applied Radiation and Isotopes

IS - 7-8 SUPPL.

ER -

Dosimetry and radiobiology at the new RA-3 reactor boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) facility: Application to the treatment of experimental oral cancer

Abstract

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this