In Taiwan, cancer has ranked as the top 10 causes of death for 40 consecutive years since 1982. Cancer is no longer incurable thanks to advances in medicine, and the development numerous emerging treatments, such as targeted therapy drugs, immunotherapy, and radiation therapy, have saved many patients and families, bringing new hope for treatment.
What is Boron Neutron Capture Therapy?
Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) is a type of precision radiation therapy for cancer. It injects boron-containing drugs into the patient’s body, and these drugs will selectively concentrate in cancerous cells. When the appropriate neutron energy is provided into the body, the boron-containing drug reacts with the neutrons to release high energy α particles and lithium nuclei, precisely destroying the cancer cells without damaging the surrounding healthy tissue.
The precision and selectivity of BNCT makes it particularly suitable for recurrent, diffuse infiltrative or conventional radioresistent cancer, such as recurrent head and neck cancer, melanoma, and glioblastoma. For many patients with rare cancers that are difficult to treat with conventional therapies, it provides greater hope and possibilities.
BNCT is not a new therapy and has been developed for more than 70 years since its first clinical application in the U.S. in the 1950s. However, clinical development has been limited by the difficulty of obtaining neutron sources in the past. In recent years, technological advances have led to the development of various particle accelerators and boron-containing drugs, and led to the rise of accelerator-based BNCT in various countries. Japan was the first to approve BNCT, and was closely followed by Taiwan, which became the second to successfully apply accelerator-based BNCT. The U.S., the Netherlands, and Italy also began research and development of accelerator-based BNCT.
Rise of Boron Neutron Capture Therapy Technology in Taiwan: The Road from Research to Clinical Development
The Nuclear Science & Technology Development Center, National Tsing Hua University and Taipei Veterans General Hospital were the first to engage in the development of BNCT technology in Taiwan, conducting clinical trials on head and neck tumors. This accelerated the process from academic research to practical applications of the technology.
Heron Neutron Medical Corp. was founded in 2017 with the experience accumulated by National Tsing Hua University and the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) in accelerated-based boron neutron capture therapy (AB-BNCT), and integrates professional resources across fields to provided total solutions for AB-BNCT. Heron Neutron Medical Corp. established the first BNCT Center in Taiwan in China Medical University Hsinchu Hospital in May 2024, and obtained a medical device permit license in Taiwan in July, starting a new chapter of AB-BNCT in Taiwan. Clinical trials have already begun, and confirmatory trials are expected to be completed by 2026.
BNCT is a major breakthrough in cancer treatment that is gradually changing how the world approaches treatment for tumors that are hard to treat. After decades of technological improvement, BNCT is being applied clinically in many countries, and has shown its advantages as a type of precision treatment with low side-effects. As BNCT technology and clinical applications continue to be developed in Taiwan, the scope of application will be expanded in the future, and is expected to bring new treatment breakthroughs to more cancer patients.
Source:
Heron Neutron Medical Corp. (n.d.), Technology Introduction and Applications, retrieved on November 13, 2024. Source: https://www.heron-neutron.com/
Department of Heavy Particles & Radiation Oncology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital (n.d.), Introduction to the Department of Heavy Particles & Radiation Oncology, retrieved on November 13, 2024. Source: https://wd.vghtpe.gov.tw/CIRO/Fpage.action?muid=18032&fid=16192
Wang Chun-Wei (November 2023), New Advances in Precision Radiation Therapy: Advantages and Challenges of Proton, Heavy Particle, and Boron Neutron Capture Therapy, NTUH e-News, 192, retrieved on November 13, 2024. Source: https://epaper.ntuh.gov.tw/health/202311/project_1.html
