BNCT of 3 cases of spontaneous head and neck cancer in feline patients

• Published in: Applied radiation and isotopes 2004-11, Vol.61 (5), p.947-952
• Main Authors: Rao, Mónica, Trivillin, Verónica A, Heber, Elisa M, de los Angeles Cantarelli, Marı́a, Itoiz, Marı́a E, Nigg, David W, Rebagliati, Raúl Jiménez, Batistoni, Daniel, Schwint, Amanda E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Boron Compounds - pharmacokinetics; Boron Compounds - therapeutic use; Boron Neutron Capture Therapy - veterinary; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - metabolism; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - pathology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - radiotherapy; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - veterinary; Cat Diseases - metabolism; Cat Diseases - pathology; Cat Diseases - radiotherapy; Cats; Feline; Female; Head and Neck Neoplasms - metabolism; Head and Neck Neoplasms - pathology; Head and Neck Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Head and Neck Neoplasms - veterinary; Phenylalanine - analogs & derivatives; Phenylalanine - pharmacokinetics; Phenylalanine - therapeutic use; Preclinical BNCT; Squamous cell carcinoma; Tissue Distribution
• ISSN: 0969-8043; 1872-9800
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2004.05.016

Having demonstrated BPA-BNCT induced control of experimental squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) of the hamster cheek pouch mucosa with no damage to normal tissue we explored the feasibility and safety of treating spontaneous head and neck tumors, with particular focus on SCC, of terminal feline patients with low dose BPA-BNCT employing the thermal beam of the RA-1 Reactor within a preclinical context. The biodistribution studies showed that, in all three cases evaluated, BPA delivered absolute boron values to tumor in the range that proved therapeutically useful in the experimental model of SCC. BPA-BNCT studies showed no radiotoxic effects, partial tumor control in terms of impaired growth and partial necrosis, an improvement in clinical condition and prolonged survival beyond the terminal condition of the feline patients at the time of recruitment.