Highlights
- •Formal definition of the therapeutic potential and versatility of a BNCT beam.
- •Derivation of a head and neck cancer TCP model for non-uniform doses.
- •Introduction of a novel model of uncomplicated tumor control probability in BNCT.
- •Demonstration of the usefulness of the models to assess the performance of a beam.
- •Introduction of a practical and essential aid to guide treatment decisions.
Abstract
Purpose
Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) is a treatment modality that uses an external
neutron beam to selectively inactive boron10-loaded tumor cells. This work presents
the development and innovative use of radiobiological probability models to adequately
evaluate and compare the therapeutic potential and versatility of beams presenting
different neutron energy spectra.
M&M
Aforementioned characteristics, collectively refer to as the performance of a beam,
were defined on the basis of radiobiological probability models for the first time
in BNCT. A model of uncomplicated tumor control probability (UTCP) for HN cancer was introduced. This model considers a NTCP able to predict severe mucositis and a TCP for non-uniform doses derived herein. A systematic study comprising a simplified
HN cancer model is presented as a practical application of the introduced radiobiological
figures of merit (FOM) for assessing and comparing the performance of different clinical
beams. Applications involving treated HN cancer patients were also analyzed.
Results
The maximum UTCP proved suitable and sensitive to assess the performance of a beam, revealing particularities
of the studied sources that the physical FOMs do not highlight. The radiobiological
FOMs evaluated in patients showed to be useful tools both for retrospective analysis
of the BNCT treatments, and for prospective studies of beam optimization and feasibility.
Conclusions
The presented developments and applications demonstrated that it is possible to assess
and compare performances of completely different beams fairly and adequately by assessing
the radiobiological FOM UTCP. Thus, this figure would be a practical and essential aid to guide treatment decisions.
Graphical abstract
Graphical Abstract
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: October 11, 2019
Accepted:
September 14,
2019
Received in revised form:
September 9,
2019
Received:
June 20,
2019
Identification
Copyright
© 2019 Associazione Italiana di Fisica Medica. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
