Comparative Depth-Dose Analysis for Prostate Cancer BNCT Using MIT and BMRR Epithermal Neutron Spectra Reactors

Rajab Ali Khawari; Dawood Mirzaee; Noor Mohammad Azizi; Ihsanul Haq Yar

doi:10.62810/jnsr.v4i1.302

Authors

Rajab Ali Khawari Physics and Electronics Department, Faculty of Physics, Kabul University, Kabul, Afghanistan
Dawood Mirzaee Nuclear and Atomics Department, Faculty of Physics, Kabul University, Kabul, Afghanistan
Noor Mohammad Azizi Nuclear and Atomics Department, Faculty of Physics, Kabul University, Kabul, Afghanistan
Ihsanul Haq Yar Physics and Electronics Department, Faculty of Physics, Kabul University, Kabul, Afghanistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62810/jnsr.v4i1.302

Keywords:

BNCT Method, Depth-dose, Epithermal neutron spectrum, MIT Reactor, Monte Carlo computational code, Prostate cancer, SRIM

Abstract

This research concentrated on dose assessments for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) as a possible definitive treatment for prostate cancer. BNCT functions by precisely targeting boron-10 ) ) to cancerous cells, which, when they absorb thermal neutrons, emit high-energy particles—primarily alpha particles and lithium nuclei—that destroy tumor cells while preserving adjacent healthy tissue. This study assessed the depth-dose distribution within the prostate tumor and adjacent tissues using Monte Carlo simulations with the MCNP and Geant4 codes. These instruments simulate the motion and interactions of neutrons and secondary particles in tissue to accurately predict dose distributions. The simulations employed epithermal neutron spectra from the MIT and BMRR reactors, which are ideal for BNCT, as epithermal neutrons can penetrate deeper into tissue before slowing to thermal energies where boron-10 capture occurs. The findings indicated that the boron-10 concentration, neutron flux, and the configuration of the epithermal neutron spectrum highly influence the depth-dose within the prostate. The estimated total dose in the prostate was 0.03–0.08 (Gy/s). The research additionally measured the dose and energy distributions of secondary particles generated during nuclear interactions, which are crucial for evaluating tumor control and effects on normal tissue. The results suggest that BNCT holds considerable promise as a treatment for prostate cancer, providing precise tumor irradiation and minimizing harm to adjacent tissues.

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