Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39985555›Full record

ArticleMedical physics2025

Towards an adequate description of the dose-response relationship in BNCT of glioblastoma multiforme.

Barbara Marcaccio, Marco Crepaldi, Ian Postuma, Erica Simeone, Claretta Guidi, Setareh Fatemi, Ricardo Luis Ramos, Valerio Vercesi, Cinzia Ferrari, Laura Cansolino and 14 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Medical physics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Hypo-segmentation ofEJNMMI research · 2025
    Article
  2. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

24 authors.

Barbara MarcaccioDepartment of Physics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Marco CrepaldiDepartment of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Ian PostumaNational Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), Unit of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Erica SimeoneDepartment of Physics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Claretta GuidiDepartment of Physics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Setareh FatemiNational Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), Unit of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Ricardo Luis RamosNational Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), Unit of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Valerio VercesiNational Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), Unit of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Cinzia FerrariNational Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), Unit of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Laura CansolinoNational Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), Unit of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Elena DelgrossoNational Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), Unit of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Riccardo Di LibertoFoundation I.R.C.C.S. San Matteo Polyclinic, Pavia, Italy.
Daniele DondiNational Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), Unit of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Dhanalakshmi VadivelDepartment of Chemistry, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Yi-Wei ChenDepartment of Heavy Particles and Radiation Oncology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Fong-In ChouNuclear Science and Technology Development Center, National Tsing Hua University, HsinChu, Taiwan.
Jinn-Jer PeirNuclear Science and Technology Development Center, National Tsing Hua University, HsinChu, Taiwan.
Chuan-Jen WuNuclear Science and Technology Development Center, National Tsing Hua University, HsinChu, Taiwan.
Hui-Yu TsaiNuclear Science and Technology Development Center, National Tsing Hua University, HsinChu, Taiwan.
Jia-Cheng LeeDepartment of Heavy Particles and Radiation Oncology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Agustina Mariana PortuUniversidad Nacional de San Martín, San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Ana Mailén Dattoli ViegasUniversidad Nacional de San Martín, San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Sara Josefina GonzálezUniversidad Nacional de San Martín, San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Silva BortolussiDepartment of Physics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.

Funding

Agencia Nacional de Promoción de la Investigación, el Desarrollo Tecnológico y la Innovación Nº 2019-01047Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica, Gobierno de ArgentinaConsejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas Nº 2021-2023 GI 11220200100925COMinistero dell'Università e della Ricerca PNC0000003 ANTHEM
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundBoron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) is a binary radiotherapy based on the intravenous administration of a borated drug to the patient and the subsequent irradiation with a low-energy neutron beam. The borated formulation accumulates in the tumor cells, and when neutrons interact with boron, a nuclear capture reaction occurs, releasing high-linear energy transfer, short-range particles that cause lethal damage to the cancer cells. Due to its selectivity, BNCT has the potential to treat aggressive brain tumors such as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), minimizing the side effects. GBM is a brain neoplasia that poses significant treatment challenges due to its invasiveness and resistance to conventional treatments. PURPOSE: This work aims to find a suitable model for calculating the photon isoeffective dose for GBM, producing ad hoc radiobiological data to feed the model.

methodsTo describe adequately the dose-effect relation of BNCT for GBM, the following strategy has been applied 1.We studied the impact of choosing two different photon radiation types (x- or gamma- rays) 2.We assumed that the correct description of the photon-equivalent dose is obtained with the photon isoeffective dose model. This model calculates the photon dose that equals the cell survival obtained with BNCT, taking into account synergism and sub-lethal damage (SLD). 3.Survival curves as a function of the dose for the human GBM U87 cell line were constructed using the clonogenic assays for irradiation with photons (reference), neutron beam, and BNCT. 4.Survival curves were fitted with the modified linear quadratic model, using SLD repair times derived for U87. The radiobiological parameters were determined for the photon isoeffective dose model. 5.The model was applied to a clinical case that received BNCT in Taiwan. Treatment planning has been simulated using an accelerator-based designed neutron beam following the real treatment process and parameters. The results were discussed and compared to the current method, which employs relative biological effectiveness (RBE) factors to obtain BNCT dosimetry in photon-equivalent units.

resultsThe dose-survival curves have been obtained with two different photon radiation sources as the reference with a thermal neutron beam and neutrons in the presence of boron. The fitted parameters have been obtained as the input for the photon isoeffective dose and the traditional RBE model. For the first time, the radiobiological parameters of a photon isoeffective dose model were produced for BNCT of GBM. Photon isoeffective dose value can differ up to 32% using gamma photons and low-energy x-rays. Photon isoeffective dose values are lower (17%) than the RBE model currently employed in clinical trials.

conclusionThe results highlight the impact of the reference radiation chosen for the isoeffective dose calculation and the importance of feeding the model with the appropriate radiobiological parameters.The dosimetry obtained with the new radiobiological data is consistent with the dose delivered in modern stereotactic radiotherapy, enabling tumor control predictions.

Indexed as

Boron Neutron Capture TherapyBrain NeoplasmsGlioblastomaCell SurvivalDose-Response Relationship, RadiationHumansPhotonsRadiotherapy DosageBNCTcell survival curvesdosimetryglioblastoma multiforme

Identifiers

PMID39985555
PMCPMC11972040

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