Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) is a unique form of treatment that utilizes a nuclear reaction between boron-10 and neutrons to selectively destroy tumor cells. The process begins by administering a boron-containing compound to the patient, which preferentially accumulates in tumor cells. The tumor is then irradiated with low-energy neutrons. When the neutrons interact with the boron-10 atoms within the tumor, a nuclear reaction occurs, releasing high-energy particles (lithium-7 and alpha particles) with extremely short penetration ranges, which selectively destroy the tumor cells.

Advantages

The alpha particles and lithium-7 ions generated by BNCT have an extremely short range—only about 5 to 9 micrometers, which is less than the diameter of a typical tumor cell (10 to 20 micrometers). Ideally, this means the damage is confined to the tumor cells, causing minimal harm to surrounding healthy tissue. In addition, alpha particles have a higher Relative Biological Effectiveness (RBE) than photons, making BNCT potentially more effective against radioresistant tumors. Currently, only a few thousand BNCT treatments have been performed worldwide. 

BNCT may be suitable for the following cases:

1. Radioresistant malignant tumors:
   Such as malignant gliomas and melanomas. Similar to heavy particle therapy, the alpha particles produced in BNCT have a high RBE, potentially offering greater therapeutic benefits for tumors resistant to conventional radiation.

2. Recurrent tumors:
   Including recurrent malignant brain tumors, head and neck cancers, skin cancers, and pediatric tumors. When traditional treatments have failed, BNCT can sometimes yield remarkably positive results.

硼中子捕獲治療（BNCT）是一種獨特的治療方法。它利用了硼-10 和中子之間的核反應來選擇性地摧毀腫瘤細胞。首先，給予患者含硼的化合物，這些化合物會在腫瘤細胞內積聚，然後用低能量中子照射腫瘤。中子與藥物中的硼-10 相互作用產生核反應，釋放出能量很高但穿透距離很短的粒子（鋰-7 及 α 粒子），選擇性地摧毀腫瘤細胞。 

優勢： BNCT 產生的 α 粒子及鋰-7 粒子的射程非常短，約只有 5-9μM， 不超過一個腫瘤細胞的直徑（約 10-20μM）。理想狀況下破壞的範圍僅限於腫瘤細胞，對周圍正常細胞的傷害較少。此外，產生的 α 粒子的生物效應高於光子，對於具有放射抗性的腫瘤可能有更好的成效。 

目前全球治療案例僅有數千例，BNCT 適用於： 

1. 具有放射抗性的惡性腫瘤，例如顱內惡性膠質瘤（malignant glioma）、黑色素細胞瘤（melanoma）等。類似於重粒子治 療，BNCT 產生的 α 粒子具有較高的生物效應（RBE），對於具有放射抗性的腫瘤可能具有更高的治療效益。 

2. 復發性腫瘤，例如惡性腦瘤、頭頸癌、皮膚癌、兒童腫瘤等。 如果傳統治療已經無效，BNCT 有時可以帶來令人驚艷的治療效果。

Taiwan and Japan are currently the only two countries in the world offering Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) for cancer treatment. The BNCT Center at National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) is the world's only team currently treating brain cancer with this cutting-edge technology. NTHU recently announced that Swiss author Lars Jaeger traveled to Taiwan at the end of July to receive treatment for a malignant brain tumor. After the treatment, Jaeger shared that he experienced no discomfort during BNCT, saying it felt like "a peaceful 30-minute nap."

Swiss Author Undergoes BNCT at NTHU: "Like a 30-Minute Nap"

According to NTHU, Jaeger was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) four years ago. Despite undergoing five craniotomies, Gamma Knife, and even carbon ion therapy, the tumor repeatedly recurred. After two years of researching new treatments and consulting with doctors in Switzerland and Japan, he ultimately chose Taiwan, saying:

"BNCT is my last hope, and NTHU has the most experienced team in the world."

After evaluation and treatment planning by Dr. Yi-Wei Chen, Director of the Particle Therapy Committee of the Taiwan Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, and radiation oncologist at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Jaeger underwent a 90-minute intravenous infusion of boron-containing drugs to target diffuse cancer cells in the brain. He was then taken to a treatment room adjacent to the nuclear reactor for a 24-minute neutron beam irradiation.

How BNCT Works

BNCT involves the injection of boron-containing drugs that selectively accumulate in tumor cells. Once the drug has been absorbed by the cancer cells, a neutron beam is used to irradiate the tumor area. The boron atoms undergo nuclear fission, releasing highly destructive alpha particles and lithium nuclei, which self-destruct and kill the tumor cells. Because the boron compound specifically targets cancer cells, normal brain cells remain unaffected.

During the treatment, Jaeger's wife and daughter communicated with him via microphone. After the session, he reported no discomfort, likening it to a short, restful nap. Since BNCT typically requires only one session, Jaeger and his family returned to Switzerland afterward, hopeful for positive results.

BNCT Effective Against Brain and Head & Neck Cancers — Liver Cancer is Next Target

Dr. Tsung-Kuang Yeh, Director of the NTHU Nuclear Science and Technology Development Center, stated that the Tsing Hua Neutron Medical Irradiation System (THOR), developed for BNCT, received Taiwan's first-ever medical device license for this type of treatment in June — also the first globally. This opens the possibility for BNCT to become a routine frontline cancer therapy, bringing new hope to cancer patients worldwide.

Dr. Yeh explained the principle of BNCT, "It's like a Trojan Horse, where boron-containing drugs disguise themselves as sugar-coated poison, infiltrating cancer cells and detonating from within."

Because the destructive radius of the boron reaction is only about the size of a single cell, it avoids damaging nearby healthy tissues — making it ideal for treating diffuse or inoperable tumors, such as brain cancers.

So far, over a thousand patients with brain tumors, head and neck cancers, and melanoma have received BNCT at NTHU in collaboration with Taipei Veterans General Hospital. These patients include hundreds of international cases from the U.S., Australia, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Japan, Brazil, Singapore, Hong Kong, and China.

Taiwan and Japan remain the only two countries in the world capable of offering BNCT, and NTHU is the only center globally providing BNCT specifically for brain cancer — serving as a final refuge for many terminal brain tumor patients.

台灣與日本擁有目前全球唯二的硼中子捕獲（Boron Neutron Capture Therapy，BNCT）技術治療癌症，清華大學的硼中子捕獲治療中心，更是目前全球唯一以此技術治療腦癌的團隊。清大指出，七月底瑞士知名作家拉爾斯耶格（Lars Jaeger）為了治療惡性腦瘤，特別跨海求治。在治療結束後，耶格對醫療團隊說，在BNCT的治療過程中，他沒有任何不適感，「就像睡了半小時的好覺。」

清大BNCT治療腦癌 瑞士作家跨海求治：「就像睡了半小時好覺」

清大指出，瑞士腦癌作家耶格在 4 年前發現罹患惡性腦瘤膠質母細胞瘤（Glioblastoma multiforme GBM），經歷 5 次開腦手術及加馬刀、甚至重粒子治療仍復發。耶格表示，在花了 2 年時間研究各種新療法、並與瑞士及日本醫師討論後，決定來台求治，「因為BNCT是我最後的希望，而清華大學的硼中子捕獲治療中心，是最有經驗的團隊。」

在台灣放射腫瘤學會粒子治療委員會主任委員、臺北榮民總醫院放射腫瘤科陳一瑋醫師評估並擬訂治療方針後，耶格首先進行 1 個半小時的硼藥物靜脈注射，讓腦部的彌漫性癌細胞，充分吸收作為標靶的硼藥，接著被推進緊鄰原子爐的治療室，接受 24 分鐘的中子束照射。

硼中子捕獲治療是先注射含硼藥物作為標靶，待藥物累積在腫瘤部位後，再以中子束照射，硼的原子核即被誘發分裂，產生具高殺傷力的α粒子跟鋰核，自爆並消滅癌細胞。由於有含硼標靶藥物的引導，中子束可集中殲滅癌細胞，正常的腦細胞則不受影響。

清大指出，在治療期間，妻女也不斷透過麥克風與患者對話。治療結束後，耶格說過程沒有任何不適感，就像睡了半小時的好覺。由於僅需 1 次療程，耶格與家人隨後返回瑞士，期待治療生效。

對付腦癌、頭頸癌已有成效 清大：肝癌治療為下階段重點

葉宗洸說，清大原子爐針對硼中子捕獲治療建立的「清大中子放射照射系統」，歷時 3 年送件和審議，終於在今年 6 月取得衛福部頒發的醫療器材許可證，不僅是全國唯一、也是全球首例。未來若成為常態性的第一線治療，將為全世界癌症病患帶來新希望。

清華原科中心主任葉宗洸解釋硼中子捕獲治療的原理，先注射含硼藥物作為標靶，待藥物累積在腫瘤部位後，再以中子束照射，硼的原子核即被誘發分裂，產生具高殺傷力的 α 粒子跟鋰核，自爆並消滅癌細胞。

葉宗洸說明，由於爆炸範圍僅約一顆細胞大小，不會無差別地攻擊旁邊的正常細胞，因此非常適合用來治療瀰漫性或不易切除腫瘤的癌症，例如腦癌。

「硼藥就像包著糖衣的毒藥，瞄準癌細胞，上演『木馬屠城記』。」目前清華大學與台北榮總合作，迄今已治療上千位腦癌、頭頸癌、黑色素細胞瘤病患。

其中包括上百位位從美國、澳洲、西班牙、義大利、瑞士、日本、巴西、新加坡、香港、中國大陸等地跨海求治的病患。台灣與日本是目前唯二能以硼中子捕獲技術治療癌症的國家，清華硼中子捕獲治療中心更是目前全球唯一以此技術治療腦癌的團隊，也是許多腦癌患者的最後堡壘。

• Application Process for Compassionate Use Therapy After Physician Approval

• Schedule Axumin PET scan in advance (PET/MR or PET/CT)
• If necessary, create custom molds to immobilize the body part
• If required, undergo photon therapy or chemotherapy (e.g., Avastin) beforehand
• Admit to hospital on the scheduled day and administer boron drug to allow cancer cells to absorb it
• Proceed to the nuclear reactor for BNCT (Boron Neutron Capture Therapy) irradiation
• After irradiation, return to the ward for several sessions of immunotherapy, if needed
• If the effect is insufficient, a second irradiation may be considered

1. 醫生認可治療後開始恩慈實驗療法之申請
2. 預約先行 Axumin PET檢查 (PET/MR或PET/CT)
3. 必要時須建立模具以固定身體部位
4. 必要時先行光子治療或是Avastin等化學治療
5. 擇日住院並準時打入硼藥使癌細胞吸收
6. 前往原子反應爐進行BNCT照射
7. 照射後如有必要回病房進行數次免疫療法
8. 若效果不夠可進行第二次照射