The proton-boron reaction increases the radiobiological effectiveness of clinical low- and high-energy proton beams: novel experimental evidence and perspectives

0546800 - FZÚ 2022 RIV CH eng J - Journal Article
Bláha, P. - Feoli, Ch. - Agosteo, S. - Calvaruso, M. - Cammarata, F.P. - Catalano, R. - Ciocca, M. - Cirrone, G. A. P. - Conte, V. - Cuttone, G. - Faceoetti, A. - Forte, G.I. - Giuffrida, Lorenzo - Magro, G. - Margarone, Daniele - Minafra, L. - Petringa, Giada - Pucci, G. - Ricciardi, V. - Rosa, E. - Russo, G. - Manti, L.
The proton-boron reaction increases the radiobiological effectiveness of clinical low- and high-energy proton beams: novel experimental evidence and perspectives.
Frontiers in Oncology. Roč. 11, Jun (2021), č. článku 682647. ISSN 2234-943X. E-ISSN 2234-943X
R&D Projects: GA MŠMT(CZ) EF20_079/0017754; GA TA ČR(CZ) TP01010035
Grant - others:OP VVV - MSCA-IF IV FZU(XE) CZ.02.2.69/0.0/0.0/20_079/0017754
Research Infrastructure: ELI Beamlines III - 90141
Institutional support: RVO:68378271
Keywords : protontherapy * chromosome aberrations * proton-boron (B) fusion-enhanced proton therapy (PBFEPT) * BSH * alpha-particle * cancer cell killing
OECD category: Particles and field physics
Impact factor: 5.738, year: 2021
Method of publishing: Open access

Protontherapy is a rapidly expanding radiotherapy modality where accelerated proton beams are used to precisely deliver the dose to the tumor target but is generally considered ineffective against radioresistant tumors. Proton-Boron Capture Therapy (PBCT) is a novel approach aimed at enhancing proton biological effectiveness. PBCT exploits a nuclear fusion reaction between low-energy protons and 11B atoms, i.e. p+11B→ 3α (p-B), which is supposed to produce highly-DNA damaging α-particles exclusively across the tumor-conformed Spread-Out Bragg Peak (SOBP), without harming healthy tissues in the beam entrance channel. To confirm previous work on PBCT, here we report new in-vitro data obtained at the 62-MeV ocular melanoma-dedicated proton beamline of the INFN-Laboratori Nazionali del Sud (LNS), Catania, Italy. For the first time, we also tested PBCT at the 250-MeV proton beamline used for deep-seated cancers at the Centro Nazionale di Adroterapia Oncologica (CNAO), Pavia, Italy.

Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0323276