Strategic Study of Development of Boron Neutron Capture Therapy on Cancer Radiotherapy in Taiwan
Date Issued
2012
Date
2012
Author(s)
Yen, Sang-Hue
Abstract
Since 1980s, cancer has become the principal cause of death in Taiwan. The mortality number is higher than 40,000 each year. Both clinical and basic cancer researchers worldwide are eager to overcome this intractable disease. Radiotherapy plays a very important role in cancer treatment for more than one hundred years. The most important characteristic of radiotherapy is that it destroys cancer cells via DNA damage. Therefore, a lot of new radiotherapy techniques, such as gamma-ray (generated by cobalt 60) and X-rays (generated by linear accelerator) had been developed, They all make stable and reliable contributions for cancer treatment. However, not every types of caner can be overcome entirely by conventional radiotherapy due to dismal response contributed by radioresistance. For some radiosensitive tumors, including lymphoma or germinoma, tumor bulk will disappear soon after radiotherapy. But for some tumors with poor radiosensitivity, such as melanoma in skin or glioblastoma in brain (malignant brain tumor), conventional radiotherapy only has little impact and cannot work efficiently. Therefore, if we can develop some new “targeted radiotherapy” which can provide higher radiation effectiveness with relatively less normal tissue toxicity, it’ll become the most popular goal for the modern radiotherapy development.
Up to now, the most well-established heavy particle radiotherapies globally, such as Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) and so on, are all based on the modern concepts and practical use. It can combine the excellent radiobiological effectiveness and precise radiation physical technique which can also make better clinical results in current cancer treatment. Therefore, we strongly believe that it will provide a new option and breakthrough for future cancer treatment with higher benefits.
This research project is based on the clinical results of cancer treatment at Taipei Veterans General Hospital and National Tsing-Hua University using BNCT. Our group is one of the few teams in the world who are capable to conduct this state-of-the-art cancer treatment. We will take advantage of our encouraging results as well as experiences to further develop this promising therapy. In the foreseeable future, hospital-based BNCT will be available for widespread utilization of this treatment. Our efforts had laid the groundwork for future development of BNCT in Taiwan. We are hoping these initial results could give our fellow researchers confidence in continuing development of “Targeted Radiotherapy”, thereby bringing breakthrough to cancer treatment.
Subjects
cancer
radiotherapy
boron neutron capture therapy
malignant brain tumor
targeted radiotherapy
hospital-based BNCT
SDGs
Type
thesis
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