First experimental proof of Proton Boron Capture Therapy (PBCT) to enhance protontherapy effectiveness
Authors: F Cammarata
D Margarone
V Scuderi
G Korn
F M Perozziello
G Russo
V Marchese
G Petringa
P Pisciotta
F Romano
A Picciotto
L Manti
G Milluzzo
G A P Cirrone
G Cuttone
L Giuffrida
A Minopoli
Journal: Scientific Reports (2018)
Discipline: Multidisciplinary
Keywords: Protontherapy; Hadrontherapy; Cancer; LET; 12C-ions
Affiliations: Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare- Laboratori Nazionali dei Sud, via S. Sofia, 62, Catania, Italy. ., Physics Department, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy., INFN Naples Section, Complesso Universitario di Monte S. Angelo, Via Cintia, Naples, Italy., Institute of Physics ASCR, v.v.i. (FZU), ELI-Beamlines Project, Na Slovance 2, Prague, 18221, Czech Republic., Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare- Laboratori Nazionali dei Sud, via S. Sofia, 62, Catania, Italy., Physics Department, University of Catania, via S. Sofia, 64, Catania, Italy., Fondazione Bruno Kessler, Micro-Nano Facility, Via Sommarive 18, 38123, Povo-Trento, Italy., Institute of Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology - National Research Council - (IBFM-CNR), Cefalù, (PA), Italy., National Physical Laboratory, Acoustic and Ionizing Radiation Division, Teddington, TW11 0LW, Middlesex, United Kingdom.

Abstract:  Protontherapy is hadrontherapy's fastest-growing modality and a pillar in the battle against cancer. Hadrontherapy's superiority lies in its inverted depth-dose profile, hence tumour-confined irradiation. Protons, however, lack distinct radiobiological advantages over photons or electrons. Higher LET (Linear Energy Transfer) 12C-ions can overcome cancer radioresistance: DNA lesion complexity increases with LET, resulting in efficient cell killing, i.e. higher Relative Biological Effectiveness (RBE). However, economic and radiobiological issues hamper 12C-ion clinical amenability. Thus, enhancing proton RBE is desirable. To this end, we exploited the p + 11B → 3α reaction to generate high-LET alpha particles with a clinical proton beam. To maximize the reaction rate, we used sodium borocaptate (BSH) with natural boron content. Boron-Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) uses 10B-enriched BSH for neutron irradiation-triggered alpha particles. We recorded significantly increased cellular lethality and chromosome aberration complexity. A strategy combining protontherapy's ballistic precision with the higher RBE promised by BNCT and 12C-ion therapy is thus demonstrated. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 Two flow-cytometry plots share most of their points in common, suggesting that they come from the same raw data file (differently gated and filtered). I have adjusted contrast and aspect ratios for ease of comparison. ![file] Here in context: Fig 2C from [Li et al (2019)] ; Figs 2c, 4d, 5c. ![file] -------------------------------------- ![] There may be other panels in common. , 
 Fig 6b .  At the end of this experiment, the mice were anesthetized, and [MCF-7] tumor xenografts were excised. The representative images of tumor xenografts are presented . ![file] Can the authors assure interested readers that the photograph was taken in a different lab (using a different ruler for scale) than in Fig 7A from [Xu et al (2020)]?.  Representative images of subcutaneous xenografts derived from the agomir-936- or agomir-NC-transfected Y79 cells . ![file] Also *[left]* Fig 7B from [Cheng et al (2020)] .  A representative image of the [Sw1990] tumors at the end of the experiment . *[right]* Fig 7B from [Wang et al (2019)] .  Representative images of [H522] tumor xenografts in the agomir-718 group and agomir-NC group . ![file] ,