NEU_BEAT (NEUtron Beams for cAncer Therapy) is a project dedicated to Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT), a form of radiotherapy based on the administration of a drug able to enrich tumour cells with boron-10 and subsequent irradiation with low-energy neutrons. The neutron capture in boron releases two charged particles that cause non-reparable damages to the cells where they are created. The most important characteristic of this radiotherapy is its cell selectivity. In fact, healthy tissues absorb lower boron concentrations and they can be spared from the effects of the irradiation. Traditionally, BNCT has been applied to patients in Institutions equipped with research nuclear reactors, the only neutron source intense enough to ensure short treatment times. Today, the technology is ready to produce intense neutron beams with proton accelerators. Different types of these accelerators are being installed and commissioned for clinical BNCT, and phase I and phase II trials are already ongoing in Japan. Based on the interest in this field in Italy and China, a collaboration has been established since many years. The research groups working in this field in Pavia (Italy) and Nanjing (China) have joined their efforts in to optimize some aspects of the therapy, such as the neutron beam production by proton accelerators, the design of a clinical irradiation room and the treatment planning strategies. The partnership was further reinforced thanks to the project NEU_BEAT, funded by MAECI and MOST in the scheme Scientific and Technological Cooperation between Italy and China 2016-2018. In these years, the two groups have faced some technical challenges, and have established and maintained a significant exchange of students, researchers and lecturers. In these three years, the two groups have published together, presented the results to national and international congresses, deposited patents, organized workshops and conferences. The collaboration has grown and it will keep working in the effort to build clinical BNCT centres based on accelerators technologies, based on the strong conviction that BNCT can be a response to treat tumours that still lack of cure and to improve the quality of life for a large number of patients.
This workshop represents the summary of NEU_BEAT activities and results and it aims at concluding this first collaboration period and to introduce our ideas for the future of BNCT research and application.
With the contribution of Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), Directorate General for Cultural and Economic Promotion and Innovation. With the contribution of Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) of the People's Republic of China.