Radiobiological measurements with epithermal neutrons for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy treatment planning

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is an experimental form of radiotherapy based on the combined effect of the uptake of a 10B-containing compound and the irradiation with low-energy neutrons. This therapy is currently expanding widely by means of compact accelerator neutron sources that can be installed in hospitals. These new facilities will produce epithermal beams for the therapy. This energy range is required to allow neutrons to penetrate the body and reach the tumour once thermalized. The relative biological effectiveness (a key factor for treatment planning) of neutrons in this energy range is not well known, and it is currently extrapolated from thermal or fast neutrons. The measurements proposed in this project pursue obtaining radiobiological data for both tumour and normal cells using epithermal neutrons and compare to the results of studies using other neutron energy ranges at other facilities.