Implementation of boron neutron capture therapy and proton treatment in Europe

Radiotherapy for cancer disease is indispensable as a means to eradicate deeplying or infiltrating tumour tissue that cannot be removed surgically. With increasing success radiation is also used for the treatment of local or regional metastases. In special situations, even circulating malignant cells and distant micrometastases could be treated efficiently, either by whole-body irradiation or through systemic injection of atomic radiation sources carried by tumour-seeking drugs. The European cancer therapy programme is here introduced by reference to current developments in boron neutron capture therapy (based on in situ activation of the stable boron isotope boron-10 with KeV neutron beams that can be produced with nuclear reactors or ion accelerators) and in proton therapy (the proton is the most simple light ion and as such it represents the cheapest alternative to the electron among accelerated charged particles)