Advances in Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) for Recurrent Intracranial Meningioma

Meningiomas are the most frequently diagnosed primary intracranial tumors in adults. Surgical resection is preferred if the meningioma is accessible; for those that are not suitable for surgical resection, radiotherapy should be considered to improve local tumor control. However, recurrent meningiomas are challenging to treat, as the recurrent tumor might be located in the previously irradiated area. Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) is a highly selective radiotherapy modality in which the cytotoxic effect focuses mainly on cells with increased uptake of boron-containing drugs. In this article, we describe four patients with recurrent meningiomas treated with BNCT in Taiwan. The mean boron-containing drug tumor-to-normal tissue uptake ratio was 4.125, and the tumor mean dose was 29.414 GyE, received via BNCT. The treatment response showed two stable diseases, one partial response, and one complete response. We also introduce and support the effectiveness and safety of BNCT as an alternative salvage treatment for recurrent meningiomas.

Automated summary

Meningiomas are the most common primary intracranial tumors in adults. Surgical resection is the preferred treatment, but for those not suitable for surgery, radiotherapy can be considered. Recurrent meningiomas present a challenge due to their location in previously irradiated areas. This article introduces four patients from Taiwan who were treated with Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) for recurrent meningiomas. The study shows promising results, with two stable diseases, one partial response, and one complete response. BNCT is proven effective and safe as an alternative salvage treatment for recurrent meningiomas.