First Head and Neck Cancer Patients Treated with Accelerator-Based Boron Neutron Capture Therapy at Helsinki Hospital

Neutron Therapeutics LLC, in collaboration with Helsinki University Hospital, has achieved a groundbreaking milestone by successfully treating cancer patients in a European hospital with accelerator-based boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). This marks the first clinical implementation of accelerator-based BNCT outside Asia, highlighting a significant advancement in cancer treatment technology.

BNCT, approved in Japan, is a type of targeted radiation therapy. It involves the use of epithermal neutrons to activate a boron-containing compound that is selectively absorbed by tumor cells. The interaction between boron and neutrons generates high-energy alpha particles within the cancer cells, effectively destroying them while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues. Unlike conventional radiation therapies or chemotherapy, BNCT requires only one or two sessions, making it a potentially transformative treatment by reducing side effects and preserving the patient's quality of life.

The ongoing study in Helsinki is enrolling patients with inoperable, locally recurrent head and neck cancer. This trial aims to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of BNCT using Neutron Therapeutics' nuBeam® device. The nuBeam® device is a compact, accelerator-based neutron source designed for high throughput, paired with a locally compounded boron-carrying drug. Helsinki University Hospital's Comprehensive Cancer Center, active in BNCT research and clinical trials since 1992, is the first European facility equipped with a nuBeam® Suite.

The nuBeam® Suite offered by Neutron Therapeutics encompasses all necessary components for BNCT administration. This includes the neutron source itself, patient positioning and imaging systems, treatment control software, and treatment planning software. Clinical validation of this technology is underway, with plans to submit for a CE mark upon completion. Neutron Therapeutics is also exploring collaborations with academic medical centers in the United States to introduce this advanced cancer therapy to American patients.

Bill Buckley, co-founder of Neutron Therapeutics, expressed pride in bringing BNCT to the West, a region that has not had access to this promising treatment for years due to the shutdown of reactor-based BNCT facilities. He emphasized the potential of BNCT as an alternative for patients whose conditions do not respond well to traditional treatments. Buckley acknowledged the partnership with Helsinki University Hospital, praising their extensive clinical expertise.

Johanna Mattson, Director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Helsinki University Hospital, conveyed enthusiasm for the initiation of BNCT trials in Finland and Europe. She highlighted the significant unmet need for effective treatments in locally recurrent head and neck cancer, noting the hospital's substantial history with BNCT as a solid foundation for conducting this and subsequent trials. The ultimate goal is to expand the availability of BNCT to more patients suffering from various types of solid tumors.

Helsinki University Hospital has been at the forefront of BNCT clinical application, having treated over 200 cancer patients using a research nuclear reactor as the neutron source. With the introduction of Neutron Therapeutics' nuBeam® Suite, the hospital continues its leadership in developing clinical applications for BNCT across multiple cancer indications, establishing itself as Europe’s pioneer in accelerator-based BNCT therapy.

Neutron Therapeutics is a prominent provider of BNCT systems for cancer radiation treatment. Their flagship product, the nuBeam® therapy platform, offers an in-hospital neutron source to replace the traditional nuclear reactor. The nuBeam® system boasts the highest neutron flux among BNCT technologies, delivering superior beam quality in line with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) guidelines for clinical neutron use.

This collaboration between Neutron Therapeutics and Helsinki University Hospital marks a promising advancement in cancer treatment, setting the stage for broader application and availability of BNCT in Europe and potentially the United States.