Boron Neutron Capture Therapy, Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1992 Toward Clinical Trials of Glioma Treatment

The European Collaboration on Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT), conceived in 1987 and successful in 1989 in gaining financial support as a Concerted Action through the Medical and Health Research Programme of the Commission ofthe European Communities (CEC) in Brussels, considered it an opportune moment to hold its annual Plenary Meeting on 18-20 Septem­ ber 1991 as an International Workshop entitled "Towards Clinical Trials of Glioma with BNCT". The background to this consideration was influenced by the world-wide resurgence ofinterest in NCT over the last 2 decades and by the exemplifica­ tions at the Fourth International Symposium on Neutron Capture Therapy for Cancer held in Sydney in December 1990, where it was strongly indicated that within the next 2 years clinical trials would be started both in Europe and the United States. In particular at the High Flux Reactor of the Joint Research Centre of the CEC at Petten in The Netherlands, an epithermal neutron beam designed and installed in the summer of 1990 recently became operable at full reactor power. An extensive series ofexperiments, including the nuclear and radiobiological characterisation of the beam and a healthy tissue tolerance study on canines has started and has the aim to define the preconditions for clinical trials onpatients with Grade III/IV glioma. However, as with any other new therapy modality, it must be demon­ strated that BNCT is safe for the patient and has a reasonable chance of being an effective therapy.

Opening Speech.- Welcome Address.- Safety and Efficacy in Boron Neutron Capture Therapy.- Some Aspects of BNCT Research at the BrookhavenNational Laboratory.- INEL BNCT Program Directions with Respect to Clinical Trials of BNCT.- The Department of Energy Research Program in Boron Neutron Capture Therapy.- Current Overview on the Approach of Clinical Trials at Petten.- Review of the Physics Calculations Performed for the BNCT Facility at the HFR Petten.- From Filter Installation to Beam Characterization.- Neutron Spectrometry Measurements of the Petten HFR, HB11 Neutron Beam.- A Semi-Empirical Method of Treatment Planning for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy.- Present Status of the Three-Dimensional Treatment Planning Methodologies for the Petten BNCT Facility.- A Phase 1 Biodistribution Study of P-Boronophenylalanine.- RBE in Normal Tissue Studies.- Treatment Planning and Optimization for Pion Therapy.- Dose Calculations Based on Image Reconstructions.- Borocaptate Sodium (BSH) Pharmacokinetics in Glioma Patients.- BSH in Patients with Malignant Glioma: Distribution in Tissues, Comparison Between BSH Concentration and Histology.- Macroscopic and Microscopic Biodistribution of Bsh in a Rat Glioma Model.- Healthy Tissue Tolerance Studies for BNCT at the High Flux Reactor in Petten - First Results.- Cellular Pharmacokinetics of BNCT Compounds and their Cellular Localization with EELS/ESI.- Large Animal Model Studies of Normal Tissue Tolerance Using an Epithermal Neutron Beam and Borocaptate Sodium.- Proposal for Patient Selection Criteria and Follow-Up for BNCT in Patients with Supratentorial Malignant Gliomas.- A Proposal for Phase I Clinical Trials of Glioma Patients.- Approaches to the Design and Evaluation of Compounds for BNCT.- The Implementation Strategy for BNCT Trials in Australia.- Round Table Discussion Approach to Clinical Trials of Glioma.- Author Index.- Participants.