The new fission converter based epithermal neutron irradiation facility for neutron capture therapy

Abstract Neutron capture therapy, usually referred to as boron neutron capture therapy or BNCT, is a promising experimental approach to cancer therapy. BNCT involves the infusion of a non-toxic drug, usually a compound containing B-10, which concentrates preferentially in tumor cells and the subsequent neutron irradiation of the tumor region. Neutrons induce the (n,α)reaction in B-10. This produces two highly energetic ions, lithium and helium, with a combined kinetic energy, which is usually 2.3 MeV. The combined range of these two ions is 12 microns. Typical cells are −10 microns in size and, therefore, the energy of these ions is localized to the origin cell and directly adjacent cells. For this reason, BNCT is considered to be a tumor targeting radiation therapy at the cellular level.