Search

Before the first clinical trials of BNCT with borocaptate sodium (BSH) on patients suffering from malignant brain tumours can be performed at the epithermal neutron beam of the HFR Petten, the tolerance of healthy tissue exposed to this beam has to be determined. Therefore irradiation experiments are currently being performed on beagle dogs at different mean blood 10B concentrations. To monitor radiation induced brain damage after irradiation, a method has to be employed which provides sufficient sensitivity for detecting radiation induced damage to tissue. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive method which yields excellent discrimination between grey and white matter.1 Information on the integrity of the blood-brain-barrier can be obtained by using paramagnetic contrast agents like Gadolinium-DTPA (Gd-DTPA).

Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) offers a potential form of therapy for highly malignant brain tumours such as glioblastoma multiforme1,2. The High Flux Reactor of the Commission of the European Communities in Petten, The Netherlands, will serve as the neutron source for this treatment3. Before first clinical trials can be performed on patients, the tolerance of healthy tissue exposed to the radiation fleld has to be determined. Due to the characteristics of epithermal neutrons a large animal model has to be used for this task. Since the canine model has proved to be an excellent tool to answer this issue4, it has been chosen for the healthy tissue tolerance studies at Petten. The paper here describes the experimental set up and the initial results from the first two canine experiments which were irradiated in July 1991.