The Perspectives of the Boron Neutron Capture Therapy-Clinical Applications Research and Development in Saudi Arabia

Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) is a binary form of experimental radiotherapy which is based on the administration of a drug able to concentrate the isotopes in a tumor cell that later are irradiated with a neutron beam. Even though the first evidence of the success of this treatment dates back many years ago, BNCT showed successful treatment results in malignant melanoma, and Glioblastoma. In order for BNCT to be successful, a sufficient amount of Boron (10B) must be selectively delivered to the tumor cell, and then irradiated by neutrons of sufficient enough. The CS-30 cyclotron at King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center is a positive-ion machine capable of accelerating protons at 26MeV, and other isotopes as well. Although the peak beam intensity from the CS-30 is low, the key to success of using it for the BNCT is by using a high average beam current at low energy. This work is aimed at testing the capability of the CS-30 Cyclotron to produce a low-energy neutron beam to be used to activate the Boron atoms injected into the tumor cell, through simulation of a compatible moderator. We are also planning to measure the overall dosimetry of the energy dose as well as that for the boron in the tumor cell.