Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) is a
radiation science which is emerging as a hopeful tool in treating cancer, by selectively concentrating boron compounds in tumour
cells and then subjecting the tumour
cells to epithermal neutron beam radiation. BNCT bestows upon the nuclear reaction that occurs when Boron-10, a stable isotope, is irradiated with low-energy thermal neutrons to yield α particles (Helium-4) and recoiling lithium-7 nuclei. A large number of 10 Boron (10B) atoms have to be localized on or within neoplastic
cells for BNCT to be effective, and an adequate number of thermal neutrons have to be absorbed by the 10B atoms to maintain a lethal 10B (n, α) lithium-7 reaction. The most exclusive property of BNCT is that it can deposit an immense dose gradient between the tumour
cells and normal cells. BNCT integrates the fundamental focusing
perception of
chemotherapy and the gross anatomical localization proposition of traditional radiotherapy. There is an increase in oral
cancer burden day by day. The mainstream treatment modalities in treating
cancer are surgery,
chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Surgical annihilation is highly efficient in primary tumours, but it is limited to surgically sizeable and approachable tumours and thus
cancer cells may not be wholely evacuated.
Chemotherapy is the use of chemical
drugs to fight cancer. The systemically administrated
drugs circulate in the body to kill
cells that divide rapidly, especially
cancer cells. It commonly has significant side effects due to drug toxicity to normal
cells and is subject to the development of resistance by the
cancer cells. Radiation utilizes high energy ionization particles like X-rays, gamma rays or electrons, to damage
cells at molecular level and is often used as an integral approach, to exterminate remaining
cancer cells after surgery. But, it can cause destruction to the lively/healthy tissues neighbouring the
cancer cells or in the lane of radiation beam.
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