Modulation of the neutron spectrum for NCTB

Cancer is characterized by the uncontrolled growth of differentiated cells in a part of the organism. Currently in the world there are millions of people living with cancer. Glioblastoma multiform e is the most common and most aggressive of brain tumors and is very difficult to treat by conventional surgery, chemotherapy or radiation. The only viable alternative is its treatment through Neutron Capture Therapy in Boron (NCTB), since is a selective therapy that requires a drug with ¹⁰B (a non-radioactive isotope of boron) and a modulated neutron beam. Thermal neutrons are captured by ¹⁰B, because has a large effective section of thermal neutron absorption, in an exothermic reaction forming the nucleus composed of ¹¹B in an excited state that induces its cleavage in two nuclei: ⁷Li and alpha particle (⁴He). This process causes the destruction of cancer cells by direct DNA damage, without damaging normal tissue. One of the problems associated with this therapy is to have a neutron beam with adequate flow and spectrum. The neutron spectrum must be moderated and filtered from the characteristics of the source. To this end, the main sources of neutrons are nuclear research reactors and particle accelerators. The intensity of the flow should be 2 x 10 E⁹ n/cm².s, in order to treat the patient in a reasonable time; thus, is interesting to design filters for a radial beam of a TRIGA reactor, where materials such as Cd, Al, Fe and polyethylene are being implemented in the interest of having a spectrum with which the therapy can be implemented. For this design is being played with the position of the materials, to be able to see the behavior of the spectrum and thus choose some arrangement as indicated, of course taking into account the doses of both neutrons and gammas. (Author)