Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) translational studies in the hamster cheek pouch model of oral cancer at the new “B2” configuration of the RA-6 nuclear reactor

MONTI HUGHES, ANDREA; LONGHINO, JUAN; BOGGIO, ESTEBAN; MEDINA, VANINA A.; MARTINEL LAMAS, DIEGO J.; GARABALINO, MARCELA A.; HEBER, ELISA M.; POZZI, EMILIANO C. C.; ITOIZ, MARÍA E.; AROMANDO, ROMINA F.; NIGG, DAVID W.; TRIVILLIN, VERÓNICA A.; SCHWINT, AMANDA E.

RADIATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL BIOPHYSICS

SPRINGER

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2017

0301-634X

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is basedon selective accumulation of B-10 carriers in tumor followedby neutron irradiation. We demonstrated, in 2001, the therapeuticeffect of BNCT mediated by BPA (boronophenylalanine)in the hamster cheek pouch model of oral cancer,at the RA-6 nuclear reactor. Between 2007 and 2011, theRA-6 was upgraded, leading to an improvement in the performanceof the BNCT beam (B2 configuration). Our aimwas to evaluate BPA-BNCT radiotoxicity and tumor controlin the hamster cheek pouch model of oral cancer at the new?B2? configuration. We also evaluated, for the first time inthe oral cancer model, the radioprotective effect of histamineagainst mucositis in precancerous tissue as the dose-limitingtissue. Cancerized pouches were exposed to: BPA-BNCT;BPA-BNCT + histamine; BO: Beam only; BO + histamine;CONTROL: cancerized, no-treatment. BNCT induced severemucositis, with an incidence that was slightly higher than in?B1? experiments (86 vs 67%, respectively). BO inducedlow/moderate mucositis. Histamine slightly reduced theincidence of severe mucositis induced by BPA-BNCT (75vs 86%) and prevented mucositis altogether in BO animals.Tumor overall response was significantly higher in BNCT(94?96%) than in control (16%) and BO groups (9?38%),and did not differ significantly from the ?B1? results (91%).Histamine did not compromise BNCT therapeutic efficacy.BNCT radiotoxicity and therapeutic effect at the B1 and B2configurations of RA-6 were consistent. Histamine slightlyreduced mucositis in precancerous tissue even in this overlyaggressive oral cancer model, without compromising tumorcontrol.