Applied Radiation and Isotopes 88 (2014) 1
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Applied Radiation and Isotopes journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/apradiso
Preface
Fifteenth International Congress on Neutron Capture Therapy
The 15th International Congress on Neutron Capture Therapy (ICNCT) took place in Tsukuba, Japan in September 2012, marking the 30th anniversary of the biennial ICNCT. The congress gathered enthusiastic researchers in the field of neutron capture therapy from all over the world, and in the current special issue of Applied Radiation and Isotopes you can find carefully selected and peer reviewed articles from the participants of the 15th ICNCT. Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) is increasingly attracting the interest of many researchers and is considered to be “the next-generation charged particle therapy” after proton and carbon ion therapy. BNCT is the only cancer radiation therapy method that can focus on the cellular level. Among other advantages of BNCT is its short-time application. The traditional radiotherapy may last up to 6 weeks, when the neutron irradiation may last around 30 min, and the whole therapeutic dose can be delivered at once, reducing the patient's stress. The question of safety of the neutron application at the nuclear reactor moved researchers toward finding alternative methods of neutron beam creation. It became especially crucial after the nuclear disaster in Fukushima, which had a huge resonance in the society. The atomic reactors were stopped not only in Japan, but also in other countries, limiting the application of BNCT. Thus, with the development of nuclear technologies the emerging interest in creating in-hospital accelerator-based BNCT has increased greatly. The 15th ICNCT offered an opportunity to raise discussions about the realization of such an accelerator to create a paradigm shift in radiation therapy. Here in Tsukuba, we are proud to be among the pioneers of accelerator-based BNCT. We firmly believe that when acceleratorbased neutron irradiation becomes feasible, other research fields such as the fields of boron carriers and dosimetry will also be reactivated due to the broadening of therapeutic opportunities. We are glad to present the current special issue of Applied Radiation and Isotopes, where most of the essential questions of BNCT are being discussed. We would like to thank all the participants of the 15th ICNCT, and especially those who gave their time to write and submit manuscripts after the congress. We thank the reviewers, who
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2014.04.017 0969-8043/& 2014 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
voluntarily agreed to give recommendations to improve the articles, and also the editorial team of Applied Radiation and Isotopes. The 15th ICNCT would not be possible without the help of sponsors such as Astellas Pharma Inc., AstraZeneca, Bayer holding Ltd., Cell-Medicine, Inc., Chugai Academy for Advanced Oncology (CHAAO) Incorporated Association (Hatanaka Award sponsor company), Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., G-systems Co., Ltd., Koyama Pharmacy Co., Ltd., Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, MSD Co., Ltd., Mutou Co., Ltd., Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Rerise Medical Systems Co., Ltd., SAN Drugstore Co., Ltd., Shionogi & Co., Ltd., Stella Pharma Corporation (Fairchild Award sponsor company), Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd., Taiho Parmaceutical Co., Ltd., Taiyo Co., Ltd., Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited., Techno AP Co., Ltd., Toyama Co., Ltd., and Tsukuba Tourist and Convention Association. We would also like to thank the Japanese Society of Neutron Capture Therapy, 8th Japanese Congress on Neutron Capture Therapy, affiliated hospitals and members of Tsukuba Neurosurgery Association, the Association of Neurosurgery Departments in Ibaraki, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefectural Government, Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), Institute of Materials Structure Science, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization, and Southern Tohoku General Hospital, as well as the Association for Nuclear Technology in Medicine for their support. Special talks were supported by Chugai Academy for Advanced Oncology. We are really glad that the 15th ICNCT provided us with this great opportunity for fruitful discussions towards the development of neutron capture therapy to become one of the standard therapies in radiation oncology in the near future. With sincerest regards from Tsukuba, Japan,
President of the International Society for Neutron Capture Therapy & the 15th ICNCT and 9th JCNCT Akira Matsumura University of Tsukuba, Japan
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Applied Radiation and Isotopes journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/apradiso
Preface
Fifteenth International Congress on Neutron Capture Therapy
The 15th International Congress on Neutron Capture Therapy (ICNCT) took place in Tsukuba, Japan in September 2012, marking the 30th anniversary of the biennial ICNCT. The congress gathered enthusiastic researchers in the field of neutron capture therapy from all over the world, and in the current special issue of Applied Radiation and Isotopes you can find carefully selected and peer reviewed articles from the participants of the 15th ICNCT. Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) is increasingly attracting the interest of many researchers and is considered to be “the next-generation charged particle therapy” after proton and carbon ion therapy. BNCT is the only cancer radiation therapy method that can focus on the cellular level. Among other advantages of BNCT is its short-time application. The traditional radiotherapy may last up to 6 weeks, when the neutron irradiation may last around 30 min, and the whole therapeutic dose can be delivered at once, reducing the patient's stress. The question of safety of the neutron application at the nuclear reactor moved researchers toward finding alternative methods of neutron beam creation. It became especially crucial after the nuclear disaster in Fukushima, which had a huge resonance in the society. The atomic reactors were stopped not only in Japan, but also in other countries, limiting the application of BNCT. Thus, with the development of nuclear technologies the emerging interest in creating in-hospital accelerator-based BNCT has increased greatly. The 15th ICNCT offered an opportunity to raise discussions about the realization of such an accelerator to create a paradigm shift in radiation therapy. Here in Tsukuba, we are proud to be among the pioneers of accelerator-based BNCT. We firmly believe that when acceleratorbased neutron irradiation becomes feasible, other research fields such as the fields of boron carriers and dosimetry will also be reactivated due to the broadening of therapeutic opportunities. We are glad to present the current special issue of Applied Radiation and Isotopes, where most of the essential questions of BNCT are being discussed. We would like to thank all the participants of the 15th ICNCT, and especially those who gave their time to write and submit manuscripts after the congress. We thank the reviewers, who
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2014.04.017 0969-8043/& 2014 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
voluntarily agreed to give recommendations to improve the articles, and also the editorial team of Applied Radiation and Isotopes. The 15th ICNCT would not be possible without the help of sponsors such as Astellas Pharma Inc., AstraZeneca, Bayer holding Ltd., Cell-Medicine, Inc., Chugai Academy for Advanced Oncology (CHAAO) Incorporated Association (Hatanaka Award sponsor company), Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., G-systems Co., Ltd., Koyama Pharmacy Co., Ltd., Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, MSD Co., Ltd., Mutou Co., Ltd., Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Rerise Medical Systems Co., Ltd., SAN Drugstore Co., Ltd., Shionogi & Co., Ltd., Stella Pharma Corporation (Fairchild Award sponsor company), Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd., Taiho Parmaceutical Co., Ltd., Taiyo Co., Ltd., Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited., Techno AP Co., Ltd., Toyama Co., Ltd., and Tsukuba Tourist and Convention Association. We would also like to thank the Japanese Society of Neutron Capture Therapy, 8th Japanese Congress on Neutron Capture Therapy, affiliated hospitals and members of Tsukuba Neurosurgery Association, the Association of Neurosurgery Departments in Ibaraki, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefectural Government, Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), Institute of Materials Structure Science, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization, and Southern Tohoku General Hospital, as well as the Association for Nuclear Technology in Medicine for their support. Special talks were supported by Chugai Academy for Advanced Oncology. We are really glad that the 15th ICNCT provided us with this great opportunity for fruitful discussions towards the development of neutron capture therapy to become one of the standard therapies in radiation oncology in the near future. With sincerest regards from Tsukuba, Japan,
President of the International Society for Neutron Capture Therapy & the 15th ICNCT and 9th JCNCT Akira Matsumura University of Tsukuba, Japan
