Download Science and Technology Journal of BGNs, VOL.14, No1, JUNE

Science and Technology Journal of BGNs, VOL.14, No1, JUNE 2010
Title:
BNCT AND TARGETED RADIOTHERAPY (TRT) DEVELOPMENTS
IN ROMANIA
Authors: Ioana Patrascu, Iuliana Gruia, Rodica Anghel, Valeria Lungu, Florin
Constantin, Viorel Fugaru, Dana Niculae, Ioan Ursu, Tiberiu Esanu..
Abstract: There are a number of treatment modalities for cancer including surgery,
chemotherapy and radiation therapy. However, these treatments are not always
effective. The search for new and more efficient ways to combat cancer has opened
new perspectives. Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a new approach in cancer
treatment that has been proposed to combat glioblastomas of the brain, neck cancer
and malignant melanomas, tumors that are resistant to traditional cancer therapies.
BNCT is based on the 10B(n,α)7Li nuclear reaction, which can potentially deliver a
very high and fatal radiation dose to cancerous cells by concentrating boron in them. It
is a promising, though complicated treatment. This type of therapy offers a number of
potentially significant advantages compared to traditional radiation therapy. Treatment
is better targeted to cancerous cells so that when a tumour is irradiated with neutrons,
the damage to normal tissue is respectively less. It is also less demanding for the
patient as treatment is only one to two sessions, compared to conventional radiation
therapy where patients can be treated up to 30 times. It provides an excellent example
of the importance of innovation in the search for a cure to cancer. The recent
developments in BNCT in Romania as well as the major drawbacks will be presented.
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