Cf-252 Neutrons for the Treatment of Superficial Carcinomas

Abstract

The use of broad beams of thennal/epithermal neutrons £rpm reactors or accelerators used in conjunction with chemical agents containing Boron-10 (¹⁰ B) or Gadolinium-157 has been postulated to allow selective therapy in tumor and the target volume. We have proposed that neutron emitting radioactive sources such as Cf-252 implanted in tumor can be used to deliver selective and localized neutron therapy to the tumor and that ¹⁰B or Gd-157 enhancement can be used to augment the high LET radiation dose^(1,2,3). Neutron capture therapy using chemical agents can be used to enhance local and regional anti-tumor therapy. For Cf-252, the thermal neutrons result from the tumor/tissue interactions of the fast neutrons. The treatment of superficial carcinomas represents a situation where considerable radioresistance can be encountered with recurrent tumors, e.g. melanoma, breast, head and neck cancers and sarcomas, especially after prior surgery and radiation. Both Cf-252 neutron therapy and BNCT have potential for improving the local control and palliation of these turners⁽⁴⁾. In this paper we describe plaque therapy methods using Cf-252 for the treatment of superficial carcinomas.