Local Control of Murine Melanoma Xenografts in Nude Mice by Neutron Capture Therapy

Abstract

In recent years considerable progress has been made in the development and implementation of neutron capture therapy (NCT) for the treatment of cancer. In particular, the boron analogue of the melanin precursor phenylalanine, ie DL-p-boronophenylalanine (BPA), has been used to demonstrate the regression and cure of Harding-Passey (HP) melanoma in syngeneic mice¹. However, 18 to 25% cures were obtained for neutron irradiations without boron, suggesting that the neutron dose alone plays an important role. Neutron capture therapy of B-16 melanoma xenografts in nude mice² showed substantial tumour regression over 35 days, but the survival rate of NCT treated mice after 7 weeks was only 40-60%.