Tolerance of normal human brain to boron neutron capture therapy

Data from the Harvard-MIT and the BNL Phase I and Phase I/II clinical trials, conducted between 1994 and 1999, have been analyzed and combined, providing the most complete data set yet available on the tolerance of the normal human brain to BPA-mediated boron neutron capture therapy. Both peak (1 cm(3)) dose and average whole-brain dose show a steep dose-response relationship using somnolence syndrome as the clinical endpoint. Probit analysis indicates that the doses associated with a 50% incidence for somnolence (ED50 +/- SE) were 6.2 +/- 1.0 Gy(w) for average whole-brain dose and 14.1 +/- 1.8 Gy(w) for peak brain dose. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.