BNCT Project

BNCT, or Boron Neutron Capture Therapy, is a form of radiation therapy that biologically targets cancer cells. It works by injecting patients with a drug carrying a boron compound designed to seek out cancerous growths.

Following this, patients receive neutron radiation localised around the tumour being treated. This causes the boron atoms absorbed by the cancer cells to break down, killing the cells with the release of the resulting localised high-energy particles.

This treatment does not affect healthy tissue. One of the main benefits of this technique is the ability to deliver the required radiation dose in only a couple of treatment sessions.

BNCT treatment can also be combined with more conventional courses of radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

In 2016, HUS Helsinki University Hospital and Neutron Therapeutics signed a contract for delivery of the world's first hospital-based BNCT device in Helsinki. For their part, HUS is responsible for building the facility and eventually delivering the treatments, whereas Neutron Therapeutics is supplying the neutron source.

The finishing touches are currently being made to the project facilities and the project is getting ready to begin the device testing phase. This finetuning and testing is set to start in mid-February. The project site was completed in January, with ownership being taken up by HUS at this time.

The schedule for the testing phase is dependent on a decision regarding permission to commence treatments. This is yet to be officially granted by the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority in Finland. It is presently thought that treatments for research purposes will get underway in autumn 2019.

The first cohort of patients will consist of those presenting with localised and reoccurring cancerous tumours in the head and neck. In addition to these parts of the body, the technique can also be used to treat other tumours in which the required levels of boron can accumulate and the location of which are suitable for treatment with BCNT.

Between 1999 and 2012, HUS delivered BNCT treatments using the research reactor housed at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland in Otaniemi. The results of these treatments were promising. Owing to the closure of the research reactor, however, the BNCT treatments had to cease.

The current move to offer BNCT treatments using a brand new device only serves to strengthen the position of HUS Helsinki University Hospital as a world-leader in the field of research and development relating to cancer care. Indeed, with this initiative, HUS will become the leading research and development centre for BNCT treatments.