From the atomic nucleus to cancer cure: The marvel of BNCT a nuclear physicist views. Achievements and outstanding problems

Abstract

The interdisciplinary character of the BNCT endeavour is stressed ranging from nuclear physics to most of the natural and exact sciences.Radiobiology studies, carried out with accelerated proton, alpha and Li beams, are used to isolate the relative biological effectiveness of “pure” high LET radiation. Based on the survival curve results, we discuss the question of the use of fixed RBE factors to convert physical doses into equivalent or isoeffective gamma doses. Furthermore, the necessity of converting physical doses into equivalent or isoeffective gamma doses is questioned. Tumor Control Probabilities are discussed and used as a tool to optimize Beam Shaping Assemblies.Boron microdistribution studies are mentioned and the lack of a sufficiently complete method to cover the whole tumor, given the heterogeneity in 3D, is pointed out.The development of Prompt Gamma Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography, PG-SPECT, systems especially tailored for BNCT are discussed stressing them as a powerful way of determining in real time the macroscopic average boron dose delivered to the patient.Studies of deuteron-induced neutron-producing are reviewed and the development of electrostatic quadrupole technology for BNCT is highlighted.