Search

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) that is of the highest attractiveness due to its selective action directly on malignant tumor cells is a promising approach to treating cancers. Clinical interest in BNCT focuses in neuro-oncology on therapy for gliomas, glioblastoma in particular, and BNCT may be used in brain metastatic involvement. This needs an epithermal neutron source that complies with the requirements for BNCT, as well as a 10B-containing agent that will selectively accumulate in tumor tissue. The introduction of BNCT into clinical practice to treat patients with glial tumors will be able to enhance therapeutic efficiency.

A retrospective cohort analysis of the results of treatment of patients with malignant gliomas was made in 2 groups, each comprising 43 patients. In Group 1, the tumors were radically removed under neuronavigation guidance ("Voyager SX"). In Group 2 where the patients were operated on by the same team of surgeons who did not employ computer-assisted navigation technologies. The results of different adjuvant therapy regimens were analyzed in patients after radical tumor removal under navigation guidance (Group 1). In its first subgroup, 24 patients with anaplastic astrocytes were postoperatively irradiated (60 Gy), followed by treatment with temodal (200 mg/m2 (mean 6 courses). In the second subgroup, 12 patients received chemoradiotherapy (temodal, 75 mg/m2 daily + irradiation), followed by courses (n=6) of temodal, 200 mg/m2). In the third subgroup, 7 patients were treated with fotemustin (200 mg/m2 (induction) + 5 cycles). The computer-assisted technologies substantially improve a postoperative outcome in patients with malignant glionas. Current chemoradiotherapy is relatively safe and prolongs a relapse-free interval with a high quality of life. Further studies call for the efficiency of different adjuvant therapy regimens after radical surgery.