BNCT for skin melanoma in extremities: Updated Argentine clinical results

As part of phase I/II melanoma BNCT clinical trial conducted in Argentina in a cooperative effort of the Argentine Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA) and the Oncology Institute Angel H. Roffo (IOAHR), 7 patients (6 female–1 male) received eight treatment sessions covering ten anatomical areas located in extremities. Mean age of the patients was 64 years (51–74). The treatments were performed between October 2003 and June 2007. All patients presented multiple subcutaneous skin metastases of melanoma and received an infusion containing ∼14 gr/m2 of 10borophenyl-alanine (BPA) followed by the exposition of the area to a mixed thermal-epithermal neutron beam at the RA-6 reactor. The maximum prescribed dose to normal skin ranged from 16.5 to 24 Gy-Eq and normal tissue administered dose varied from 15.8 to 27.5 Gy-Eq. Considering evaluable nodules, 69.3% of overall response and 30.7% of no changes were seen. The toxicity was acceptable, with 3 out of 10 evaluable areas showing ulceration (30% toxicity grade 3).