A Novel Approach to Design and Evaluate BNCT Neutron Beams Combining Physical, Radiobiological, and Dosimetric Figures of Merit

POSTUMA, IAN; GONZÁLEZ, SARA; HERRERA, MARIA S; PROVENZANO, LUCAS; FERRARINI, MICHELE; MAGNI, CHIARA; PROTTI, NICOLETTA; FATEMI, SETAREH; VERCESI, VALERIO; BATTISTONI, GIUSEPPE; ANSELMI TAMBURINI, UMBERTO; HAO LIU, YUAN; KANKAANRANTA, LEENA; KOIVUNORO, HANNA; ALTIERI, SAVERIO; BORTOLUSSI, SILVA

Biology

MDPI

Año: 2021 vol. 10

Clinical potential and safety are presented as novel criteria to evaluate neutronbeams designed for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). The presently used figures of merit are aset of physical quantities calculated in air, related to the neutron flux, the collimation, and the spectralcharacteristics. However, the capability of the beam to deliver an effective and safe treatment topatients should be the most important criterion in view of the clinical application. This work presentsthe design of a neutron beam produced by a proton accelerator coupled to a beryllium target and theuse of new figures of merit to choose the best beam among different candidates. These figures of merituse tridimensional dosimetry simulated in phantoms and patients, to calculate the probability oftumor control without affecting healthy tissues, employing proper radiobiological models. Moreover,the dose absorbed by out-of-field healthy organs is used as a criterion to establish the safest beamfor clinical treatments. Results show that beams that would be rejected by physical in-air quantitiesdemonstrate a clinical performance comparable to existing neutron beams successfully used forpatients, and that the presented criteria allow a clear selection of the most adequate beam among theones presented.