Ponente
Descripción
Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) is an experimental radiotherapy technique in which boron linked to a drug, 10B-BPA, is administered to the patient that selectively accumulates in cancer cells. This therapy relies on the large boron neutron capture cross-section to deliver a targeted dose from neutron irradiation. With the development of accelerator-based technologies, which enable the production of high-quality neutron beams in clinical settings, BNCT has demonstrated significant potential [1].
An unresolved problem in BNCT is the real-time dosimetry, which aims to determine the dose delivered to the patient's tissues during the treatment. The current method uses simple extrapolations from previous PET scans and online monitoring of boron concentration in blood [2]. Since neutron captures in boron produce 478 keV gamma rays, this radiation could be used for real-time dose monitoring. To date, the main challenges remain dealing with very intense radiation fields that generate high count rates above detector reach; and in achieving enough boron sensitivity to image the boron in the patient, on top of the strong background induced by harsh neutron and gamma ray fields generated during the treatments; while attaining the spatial resolution required and moving towards true online capabilities during treatment.
Therefore, a detector with low neutron sensitivity and high-count rate capabilities could be ideal for dosimetry in these treatments. The i-TED Compton Camera Array, developed by the Gamma Ray and Neutron Spectroscopy group at the IFIC (CSIC-UV) within the HYMNS-ERC project for nuclear physics research, has expanded into medical physics through ion-range monitoring in HT [3] and is now aiming at BNCT [4,5]. Taking advantage of its low neutron sensitivity, large efficiency, and other technical aspects makes i-TED especially well-suited for this task.
This contribution will present the developments implemented in i-TED for dose monitoring via Compton imaging, which includes the use of CLLBC segmented crystals that could allow us to work under the very high count rates produced during the treatment. We will discuss the characterization process of a CLLBC crystal and the integration of the first segmented crystal into an i-TED module. Finally, we will outline the future plans for i-TED as a dosimetry system using 3D image reconstruction capabilities with GPU acceleration towards real-time.
References
[1] K. Hirose et al., “Boron neutron capture therapy using cyclotron-based epithermal neutron source and borofalan (10B) for recurrent or locally advanced head and neck cancer (JHN002): An open-label phase II trial”, Rad. & Onc. Vol 155, pp. 182-187, (2021)
[2] International Atomic Energy Agency. Advances in Boron Neutron Capture Therapy. Non-serial Publications. IAEA, Vienna, 2023.
[3] J. Balibrea-Correa et al., “Hybrid compton-PET imaging for ion-range verification: a preclinical study for proton, helium, and carbon therapy at HIT”, The Eur. Phys. Jour. Plus, Volume 140, 870 (2025)
[4] P. Torres-Sánchez et al., “The potential of the i-TED Compton camera array for real-time boron imaging and determination during treatments in Boron Neutron Capture Therapy”, App. Radiat. Isot. 217, 111649 (2025)
[5] Lerendegui-Marco, J., et al. “First pilot tests of Compton imaging and boron concentration measurements in BNCT using i-TED”, App. Radiat. Isot. 225, 112009 (2025)
