RE: First neutron therapy procedure on the explanted human liver [FW]

["Franta, Jaroslav" <frantaj@AECL.CA>]

FYI, here is a reply from one of the Italian researchers :
Jaro 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: altieri [mailto:saverio.altieri@PV.INFN.IT]
Sent: Tuesday February 26, 2002 5:01 AM
To: BNCT@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
Subject: First procedure on the explanted human liver
 
Dear Colleagues,
                            Some of you proposed interesting remarks and comments on details of our treatment of December 19, 2001. First of all I thank you very much for your kind congratulations.

After having discussed with my colleague here in Pavia, I will  try to give short answers on your arguments:
 

• Our project, since the Symposium held in Kobe (1994), has been based on the treatment of the explanted liver for two major reasons:
  •  We realized that the only way to treat diffused metastases of various dimensions  and sensible number was the irradiation of the organ inside a thermal neutron field in such a way that any detail and positions of the treated liver were not neglected. It's important to consider  that a certain number of metastases   originated by tumor cells continuously released by the primary tumor are not visible by diagnostic instruments presently in use.
  • Another important remark is  that every point of liver tissue receive thermal  neutrons arriving from all direction. This simplify the problem of a  satisfactory uniform distribution of  neutron flux inside the whole volume of the liver. In addition, the uniformity of  the radiation dose absorbed by the organ has been obtained by a 180 degrees  rotation of the organ at half time of the neutron irradiation. The use of thermal neutrons has been preferred in order to get the most possible effective treatment.  Due to our long and  various activity in experimental and theoretical neutronics, an epithermal  neutron beam did not represent a monstrous performance at the time we designed our research.
•  Tumor to normal liver boron concentration ratio was 6 at the starting irradiation time.
•  Our surgeons are planning a further procedure after Easter (April).
•  Prof. Zonta and myself met our patient last thursday in Rome and found him in  very good shape. He shown the results of last  medical check-up  evidencing  normal values in the most important details.
•  In Essen we can discuss deeper the above and further arguments.

      My best regards to all of you

                 Tazio Pinelli              

tazio.pinelli@pv.infn.it  

UNIVERITY OF PAVIA 

VIA BASSI,6
27100  PAVIA
Italy

+39 0382 507 635