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 cm3) 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.