Research Support
SPIRITS

Interdisciplinary team research for the establishment of BNCT international center

Project Gist

To make the Kyoto University Research Reactor Institute as a leading institute for boron neutron capture therapy

Keywords

boron neutron capture therapy, research reactor, accelerator, international center

Background and Purpose

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a new type of cancer therapy which destroys malignant neoplasms through the nuclear reaction of the thermal or epi-thermal (low-energy) neutrons and boron-10, without significantly damaging normal tissue. In the Kyoto University Research Reactor Institute (KURRI), over 500 cancer patients have been treated using BNCT and obtained many important results by conducting fundamental biological studies and clinical trials of BNCT. The present project aims to lay the groundwork for various research activities related to BNCT development. The final goal is to establish BNCT as an efficient cancer therapy by obtaining government authorization for the application of BNCT as a registered medical device, and to establish an international research center for BNCT at KURRI, Kumatori.

Project Achievements

International workshops were held annually from 2015-2017, and international seminar was held in 2017. Total 300 researchers attended from 10 foreign countries and Japan. As a result of the discussion in the meeting, research collaborations have been/will be contracted with Taiwan, Germany, Indonesia, and Italy groups. The Support and Promotion Office for Interaction-based Initiative Team Studies of BNCT, established by this program, actively pursued high-value grants and funding. We obtained a large grant (provided by the Comprehensive Special Zone System of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) in the 2015-2017 fiscal year. The Promotion Office also established a committee to discuss plans regarding a BNCT medical center, through collaboration with Osaka prefecture and the town of Kumatori, and issued a report on the matter: the Plan for a BNCT Clinical Center in the Kansai Area. This report shows that KURRI should act as BNCT’s center of research; that a clinical center will be established in the Osaka Medical College; and that collaboration with universities in the Kansai area is essential to promoting BNCT.

Future Prospects

The research collaboration contracts with Germany, Italy, and Indonesia groups will be completed as soon as possible. By using these contract, we would like to carry out for the advancement of BNCT the mutual comparison of therapy methods and efficacy, the introduction system of patient, the mutual use of the facilities especially nuclear reactor (when one reactor is stopped for maintenance, the reactor in the other countries can be used mutually). By using the obtained grant, we will improve the equipment and facilities, and to promote the educational activities for BNCT.

Figure

Kyoto University Research Reactor (KUR) and Heavy Water Irradiation acility. This facility can emit low energy neutron beam suitable for BNCT, and unique and excellent BNCT facility for the clinical trials of BNCT.

Principal Investigator

KAWABATA Yuji

・KAWABATA Yuji
・Research Reactor Institute
・Efficient utilization of nuclear power and radiation provides solutions to maintain, sustain and even to improve development of human society. With collaborative use of important research resources (as for example, reactors and accelerators), our institute makes efforts to establish a center of excellence to grow and to promote multidisciplinary nuclear science and technology. It will accelerate accumulation of basic and fundamental knowledge necessary for safe and effective utilization of nuclear energy and technologies, including development of material science and the Boron Neutron Capture Therapy study (BNCT).