Boron biodistribution after boronophenylalanine-fructose (BPA-F) infusion

In vivo dynamic tissue boron concentration measurements are not available for BNCT in clinical settings. Whole blood boron concentrations and converting factors are currently used in stead to estimate the boron concentrations in the target tissues and the ensuing radiation doses. We studied with ICP-AES the boron concentrations in blood after 2 hour intravenous infusions of BPA-F in 8 patients (290 mg/kg). As BPA-F is water soluble we calculated respective doses per lean body weight (LBW (360 - 471 mg/kg) - the peak plasma concentrations and area under plasma boron concentration time curve correlated with the mg/LBW dose, but not with dose per skin surface area (mg/m2). The mean boron concentrations in plasma, whole blood and red cells at the infusion were 32.1 ± 3.3, 23.3 ± 2.4 and 9.5 ± 2.8, respectively. LBW doses should be considered to ensure more homogenous dosing and BNCT irradiation. (author)