[ RadSafe ] Boron neutron capture therapy safe, effective for recurrent head and neck cancer

[John Jacobus]

In order for BCNT to be become more than a curiosity,
it will have to be shown that it is effective in both
cancer treatment and cost. As noted in the article,
"'Five (41%) patients are alive 12.8 to 19.2 months
after treatment initiation, and four of these patients
are alive without disease recurrence.'"  This is based
on the orginal population of 12.  Not a high,
long-term success value, but probably comparable to
other established palative treatments.  

A number of years ago, intervascular brachytherapy was
touted as an effective treatment for the prevention of
occulsion of corinary blood vessels after angioplasty.
 Drug coated stents have generally replaced the
radiation. (One hospital in this area was doing three
brachytheapy a day. Now they may do three a week.)

The delivery of anti-cancer agents is certainly the
new research frontier.  The trick to find the best way
to deliver a chemotheapy agent, a radionuclide, or
boron atom for BNCT to the tumor.  However, the need
for a high flux of thermal neutrons will limit the
number of site that will be able to engage in this
researcher.  I would also expect to see developments
in the use of monoclonal antibodies as they appear (1)
have a track record of success, and (2) are easy to
deliver to the patient.  I cannot understand how one
can say that taking the organ out, treating it, and
returning it to the body is a good idea.  

By the way, I checked and could not find the article
in the cited the August issue of the International
Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, and Physics.

Sorry to hear about your friend.

--- Jaro <jaro-10kbq at sympatico.ca> wrote:

> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Jacobus
> Sent: Friday, September 07, 2007 6:24 PM
> 
> This is certainly interesting news in the treatment
> of
> sever and advanced forms of head and neck cancers. 
> It
> beats taking the organ out, irradiating it, and
> putting it back into the patient.
> <end quote>
> 
> 
> Well, given that the article talks about head and
> neck cancers, I can hardly
> argue with your claim that it "beats taking the
> organ out, irradiating it,
> and putting it back into the patient."
> 
> In other cases though, taking the organ out &
> irradiating it (BNCT-style)
> may be preferable, due to the increased
> effectiveness -- for instance in the
> case of liver or lung cancer.
> 
> While transplants are already done in a few cases,
> the problem is always
> finding a matching organ donor, and the ever-present
> risk of rejection.
> 
> Eradicating cancer from one's own organ and
> re-implanting it opens the door
> to far wider applicability (no need for donors), and
> likely a better cure
> rate too.
> 
> A friend with lung cancer committed suicide
> recently.
> 
> Delays in implementing BNCT on a large scale will
> cost many more lives.
> 
>  Jaro
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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+++++++++++++++++++
"If you guard your toothbrushes and diamonds with equal zeal, you'll probably lose fewer toothbrushes and more diamonds."
- Former national security advised McGeorge Bundy
-- John
John Jacobus, MS
Certified Health Physicist
e-mail:  crispy_bird at yahoo.com


       
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