BNCT will Bring Technological Innovations to Cancer Treatment in China

China's First Self-Developed Accelerator Boron Neutron Capture Therapy Experimental Device
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On August 13, from the press conference held by the Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Dongguan branch of the Institute has successfully developed China's first independently developed accelerator Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT for short) experimental device launched the first round of cell experiments and small animal experiments, preparing the preliminary technical preparations for clinical trials. The successful development of this device has laid a technical foundation for the localization and industrialization of China's medical BNCT treatment device, and will bring technological innovation to China's tumor treatment.

On the same day, eight academicians and experts from the fields of radiation medicine, particle accelerators, neutron physics and technology, and boron medicine gathered at the Dongguan branch of the Institute of High Energy Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Dongguan to review the BNCT experimental device. The successful development of this device is another major achievement China has made in the technological development of high-end medical equipment for cancer treatment. The entire device is independently designed and constructed, and all core technologies are mastered, laying a solid foundation for the next step in the construction of clinical BNCT treatment devices. The technological foundation has significantly improved China's international competitiveness in this field.

It is understood that BNCT is currently one of the most advanced cancer treatment methods in the world. During the treatment, the patient is first injected with a boron-containing drug. This drug has a strong affinity with cancer cells and will quickly accumulate in the cancer cells, which is equivalent to 'marking' the cancer cells, but is very distributed in other tissues. less. The patient is then irradiated with neutrons, which lasts within 1 hour, and the entire treatment process generally only needs to be irradiated once. When the irradiated neutrons are captured by the boron in the cancer cells, alpha particles and lithium ions with high lethality are produced, which can accurately 'kill' the cancer cells.

In 2018, the Institute of High Energy Physics built China's first spallation neutron source in Dongguan City. It has unique advantages in accelerator and neutron technology. The BNCT device is the first industry spawned by China's spallation neutron source related technology The chemical project is of great significance for demonstrating and driving the development of the spallation neutron source related industries. In December last year, the BNCT experimental device successfully obtained a neutron beam for the first target shooting.

At present, researchers are using this experimental device to carry out experimental research on BNCT-related core technologies to optimize the overall performance of the device. It is planned to carry out research on BNCT indications on a larger scale through cell and animal experiments to provide a corresponding experimental environment for the development of a new generation of boron drugs and animal experiments. At the same time, it has passed animal safety verification, laying the foundation for later clinical trials.


On the basis of the successful development of this BNCT experimental device, the Institute of High Energy and Dongguan People's Hospital has jointly carried out the design and development of the second BNCT clinical equipment, which is expected to enter clinical trials soon and gradually carry out clinical treatment in accordance with regulations.