Current status and potential of neutron capture therapy as a new treatment option for malignant soft tissue tumors

Neutron capture therapy（NCT）, a type of radiation therapy for cancer, utilizes radiation emitted as a result of the reaction between neutron capture elements, such as boron（10B）and gadolinium（157Gd）, located in the tumor and thermal neutrons irradiated from outside the body. In NCT with 10B（BNCT）, the homogeneous distribution of 10B in tumor tissues contributes to cancer treatment by selectively generating alpha rays in or near tumor cells, thereby destroying individual tumor cells in a brief irradiation session, without affecting surrounding normal tissues. With the success of a small-typed accelerator with NCT development and its setup in hospitals, NCT as a treatment for cancer will expand its potential and indications. In this report, an overview of current status of NCT in clinical studies is given. Then, our preclinical studies on the cellular uptake behavior and biodistribution of 10B and anti-tumor effects in treating soft tissue sarcoma by BNCT are described. In addition, the potential of a gadolinium formula as a new pharmaceutical agent with NCT is also discussed.