Biodistribution of (10)B for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) in a mouse model after injection of sodium mercaptoundecahydro-closo-dodecaborate and l-para-boronophenylalanine.

In boron neutron capture therapy, the absorbed dose from the (10)B(n,alpha)(7)Li reaction depends on the (10)B concentration and (10)B distribution in the irradiated volume. Thus compounds used in BNCT should have tumor-specific uptake and low accumulation in normal tissues. This study compares in a mouse model the (10)B uptake in different organs as delivered by l-para-boronophenylalanine (BPA, 700 mg/kg body weight, i.p.) and/or sodium mercaptoundecahydro-closo-dodecaborate (BSH, 200 mg/kg body weight, i.p). After BSH injection, the (10)B concentration was high in kidneys (20 +/- 12 microg/g) and liver (20 +/- 12 microg/g) but was low in brain (1.0 +/- 0.8 microg/g) and muscle (1.9 +/- 1.2 microg/g). After BPA injection, the (10)B concentration was high in kidneys (38 +/- 25 microg/g) and spleen (17 +/- 8 microg/g) but low in brain (5 +/- 3 microg/g). After combined BPA and BSH injection, the effect on the absolute (10)B concentration was additive in all organs. The ratio of the (10)B concentrations in tissues and blood differed significantly for the two compounds depending on the compound combination, which implies a different uptake profile for normal organs.