Particle and Heavy Ion Transport Code System‐Based Microdosimetry for the Development of Boron Agents for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a radiation therapy that selectively kills cancer cells at the cellular level using the boron neutron capture reaction (BNCR) (10B(n.α)7Li). The amount of boron 10B delivers in boronophenylalanine (BPA)-BNCT to achieve anti-tumor effects is ≈15–40 ppm. The same is true for all boron drugs; however, whether the same amount of 10B is required for other boron drugs with different accumulation characteristics has not been intensively investigated. Therefore, herein, a virtual cell model with intracellular organelles is prepared, and the BPA equivalent dose concentration to the cell nucleus is analyzed using particle and heavy ion transport code system-based microdosimetry. Additionally, the intranuclear minimal region (IMR) is set as a reference for the concept of the intranuclear domain in the microdosimetric kinetic model, and the BPA equivalent dose concentration to the IMR is estimated. The required boron delivery dose greatly varies depending on the dose assessment based on the accumulation characteristics of boron agents in intracellular organelles. Evaluation of the BNCR effect according to the accumulation characteristics without being influenced by the specified value of 15–40 ppm is recommended.

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: T. Shigehira, T. Hanafusa, K. Igawa, T. Kasai, S. Furuya, H. Nishimori, Y. Maeda, H. Michiue, A. Fujimura, Particle and Heavy Ion Transport Code System-Based Microdosimetry for the Development of Boron Agents for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy. Adv. Theory Simul. 2023, 6, 2300163. https://doi.org/10.1002/adts.202300163, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/adts.202300163. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited.

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