Application of proton boron fusion reaction to radiation therapy: A Monte Carlo simulation study

Three alpha particles are emitted from the point of reaction between a proton and boron. The alpha particles are effective in inducing the death of a tumor cell. After boron is accumulated in the tumor region, the emitted from outside the body proton can react with the boron in the tumor region. An...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied physics letters 2014-12, Vol.105 (22)
Main Authors: Yoon, Do-Kun, Jung, Joo-Young, Suh, Tae Suk
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
07 ISOTOPES AND RADIATION SOURCES
ALPHA PARTICLES
Alpha rays
Applied physics
BORON
CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS
Computer simulation
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
GAMMA RADIATION
Gamma rays
MONTE CARLO METHOD
Monte Carlo simulation
NEOPLASMS
PROTONS
RADIATION DOSES
Radiation therapy
RADIOTHERAPY
TUMOR CELLS
Tumors
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Summary:Three alpha particles are emitted from the point of reaction between a proton and boron. The alpha particles are effective in inducing the death of a tumor cell. After boron is accumulated in the tumor region, the emitted from outside the body proton can react with the boron in the tumor region. An increase of the proton's maximum dose level is caused by the boron and only the tumor cell is damaged more critically. In addition, a prompt gamma ray is emitted from the proton boron reaction point. Here, we show that the effectiveness of the proton boron fusion therapy was verified using Monte Carlo simulations. We found that a dramatic increase by more than half of the proton's maximum dose level was induced by the boron in the tumor region. This increase occurred only when the proton's maximum dose point was located within the boron uptake region. In addition, the 719 keV prompt gamma ray peak produced by the proton boron fusion reaction was positively detected. This therapy method features the advantages such as the application of Bragg-peak to the therapy, the accurate targeting of tumor, improved therapy effects, and the monitoring of the therapy region during treatment.
ISSN:0003-6951
1077-3118
DOI:10.1063/1.4903345