Current role of boron neutron capture therapy in head and neck cancer: insights from 4 years of clinical experience.
7 affiliations
- 1Department of Radiation Oncology, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 2-7 Daigakumachi, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-8686, Japan.
- 2Kansai BNCT Medical Center, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 2-7 Daigakumachi, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-8686, Japan.
- 3Department of Radiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465 Kajii-cho, Kawaramachi Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan.
- 4Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 2-7 Daigakumachi, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-8686, Japan.
- 5Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, 6-5-1 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8577, Japan.
- 6Institute for Integrated Radiation and Nuclear Science, Kyoto University, 2-Asashiro-Nishi, Kumatori-cho, Sennan-gun, Osaka 590-0494, Japan.
- 7BNCT Joint Clinical Institute, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 2-7 Daigakumachi, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-8686, Japan.
Abstract
Purpose
Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) was approved in Japan in June 2020 as a curative option for unresectable, locally advanced, or recurrent head and neck cancers. Relevantly, its efficacy and safety in clinical practice should be regularly monitored, particularly regarding its optimal positioning. Therefore, to advance its clinical application, we assessed clinical data on BNCT for head and neck cancers.Methods
We retrospectively analyzed 285 patients who received initial BNCT between June 2020 and May 2024 with available ≥1 month follow-up data. The primary endpoint was local control (LC); secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), treatment response, and grade ≥ 3 adverse events.Results
The 2-year LC, PFS, and OS rates were 41.5%, 26.4%, and 59.2%, respectively. The complete response (CR), partial response (PR), and objective response (CR + PR) rates were 47.0%, 33.3%, and 80.4%, respectively. The cumulative incidence of grade ≥ 3 late adverse events was 14.0% at 2 years, with grade 5 adverse events occurring in 2.1% of patients. No significant differences were observed in LC or PFS among histological type subgroups; however, OS was significantly worse in patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SqCC) than in patients with non-SqCC. Regarding TNM stage at irradiation, radiation therapy at an early disease stage was significantly associated with improved LC.Conclusions
BNCT should be administered during the early disease stages when no other effective treatment options are available. Further studies should determine the factors contributing to treatment efficacy and safety, thereby optimizing multimodal treatment strategies involving BNCT.
Related
- Managing coexisting depression and substance use disorder: insights from clinical experience
- Fibrillary Glomerulonephritis: Current Insights into Pathology, Pathogenesis, and Clinical Outcomes.
- In-Hospital Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy Intensification and Long-Term Outcomes in Patients Hospitalized for Heart Failure in the Current Clinical Paradigm ― Insights From the QHEART-R Study ―
- Engineered αvβ6-targeting peptide‒BSH conjugates for boron neutron capture therapy of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
- Modular Functional Boron Delivery Agents for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy: Research Progress and Application Prospects
BibTeX
@article{takeno2026current,
title = {{Current role of boron neutron capture therapy in head and neck cancer: insights from 4 years of clinical experience.}},
author = {Satoshi Takeno and Yuki Yoshino and Teruhito Aihara and Takaki Inui and Tsuyoshi Jinnin and Ichita Kinoshita and Kazuma Kobata and Mari Mukai and Naonori Hu and Akinori Sasaki and Mai Nojiri and Yasukazu Kanai and Tetsuya Terada and Shin-Ichi Haginomori and Keiji Nihei and Koji Ono},
journal = {Clinical and translational radiation oncology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.ctro.2026.101316},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42898130},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Current role of boron neutron capture therapy in head and neck cancer: insights from 4 years of clinical experience.
AU - Satoshi Takeno
AU - Yuki Yoshino
AU - Teruhito Aihara
AU - Takaki Inui
AU - Tsuyoshi Jinnin
AU - Ichita Kinoshita
AU - Kazuma Kobata
AU - Mari Mukai
AU - Naonori Hu
AU - Akinori Sasaki
AU - Mai Nojiri
AU - Yasukazu Kanai
AU - Tetsuya Terada
AU - Shin-Ichi Haginomori
AU - Keiji Nihei
AU - Koji Ono
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/07
JO - Clinical and translational radiation oncology
DO - 10.1016/j.ctro.2026.101316
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42898130
AB - Purpose Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) was approved in Japan in June 2020 as a curative option for unresectable, locally advanced, or recurrent head and neck cancers. Relevantly, its efficacy and safety in clinical practice should be regularly monitored, particularly regarding its optimal positioning. Therefore, to advance its clinical application, we assessed clinical data on BNCT for head and neck cancers.Methods We retrospectively analyzed 285 patients who received initial BNCT between June 2020 and May 2024 with available ≥1 month follow-up data. The primary endpoint was local control (LC); secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), treatment response, and grade ≥ 3 adverse events.Results The 2-year LC, PFS, and OS rates were 41.5%, 26.4%, and 59.2%, respectively. The complete response (CR), partial response (PR), and objective response (CR + PR) rates were 47.0%, 33.3%, and 80.4%, respectively. The cumulative incidence of grade ≥ 3 late adverse events was 14.0% at 2 years, with grade 5 adverse events occurring in 2.1% of patients. No significant differences were observed in LC or PFS among histological type subgroups; however, OS was significantly worse in patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SqCC) than in patients with non-SqCC. Regarding TNM stage at irradiation, radiation therapy at an early disease stage was significantly associated with improved LC.Conclusions BNCT should be administered during the early disease stages when no other effective treatment options are available. Further studies should determine the factors contributing to treatment efficacy and safety, thereby optimizing multimodal treatment strategies involving BNCT.
SN - 2405-6308
ER -