Carboranyl thymidine analogues for neutron capture therapy

Neutron capture therapy (NCT) is a binary radio-chemotherapeutic modality for the treatment of cancer. A major focus of NCT-related research is the development of novel tumor-selective agents that serve as the chemical component in NCT. Thymidine analogues substituted with a boron-containing carborane cluster at the N3 position, designated 3CTAs (3-carboranyl thymidine analogues), constitute one class of these new improved NCT agents. Their chemical, structural and biological properties are discussed in this Feature Article.