Neutron capturing therapy, a type of cancer treatment, is spelled phonetically as /ˈnjuːtrɒn/ /ˈkæptʃərɪŋ/ /ˈθɛrəpɪ/. The first syllable, /ˈnjuːtrɒn/, represents the pronunciation of neutron, which is a subatomic particle. The second syllable, /ˈkæptʃərɪŋ/, is the IPA transcription of the term capturing, which denotes the process of trapping or subduing something. The final syllable, /ˈθɛrəpɪ/, signifies therapy or treatment. The word is spelled as such to accurately represent the pronunciation of the individual components for clear communication among medical professionals.
Neutron capturing therapy, also known as boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), is a medical procedure that utilizes neutrons to deliver radiation treatment to target cancer cells. This therapy is based on the principle that certain elements, such as boron-10, have the ability to capture neutrons and undergo a nuclear reaction that releases damaging radiation.
In neutron capturing therapy, a patient is first injected with a compound containing the stable isotope boron-10. Once inside the body, the boron-10 atoms selectively accumulate in cancer cells, thanks to their higher metabolic rate compared to normal cells. Following this initial step, the patient is exposed to a beam of low-energy neutrons. These neutrons are absorbed by the boron-10 atoms, leading to a nuclear reaction that results in the release of radiation.
The emitted radiation from the neutrons has a high linear energy transfer (LET), which means it causes significant damage to the target cancer cells while sparing surrounding healthy tissues. This high precision is due to the fact that the boron-10 compound selectively accumulates in cancer cells, enhancing the destruction of malignant tissues.
Neutron capturing therapy has shown promise in the treatment of certain types of cancer, particularly those where conventional radiation therapy may be less effective. It offers the potential for a targeted, non-invasive treatment approach, minimizing damage to healthy tissue and reducing side effects. However, further research and clinical trials are needed to fully evaluate its efficacy and determine the most suitable applications for this therapy.