Early in the 90s, Japanese scientists showed that boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) allows treating brain glioblastoma multiforme and melanoma, that are resistant to other methods of treatment. Glioblastoma multiforme afflicts approximately one of 20,000 people every year. The disease is always fatal, usually within six months of onset. Surgery and conventional radiation therapies may prolong life for as much as a year but do not stop the spread of tumors throughout the brain. This event in the early 90s gave a good intensification in study boron neutron capture therapy. In 1994 BNCT irradiation was re-initiated in the US. Glioblastoma multiforme patients have been treated at Massachusetts Institute of Technology Research Reactor and Brookhaven Medical Research Reactor. In 1997, clinical trials began in Petten, the Netherlands, as a result of joint effort of the European Community. In June 1999 clinical trials began in Finland, in 2000 - in Czesh Republic, 2002 - Sweden and Italy, 2003 - Argentina, in the near future clinical testing in Australia and Korea will be started. All these studies are conducted at specially constructed or adapted nuclear reactors. Progress in BNCT at clinical trials at reactors and prospects of the technique led to intensive discussion of development and construction of neutron source based on compact and inexpensive accelerator available for every oncologic hospital. Now, works are carried out at accelerators available at the number of scientific centers, and pilot accelerator based source of epithermal neutrons is under construction at the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics.

The International Symposium on Boron Neutron Capture Therapy was held in Novosibirsk, July 7-9, 2004. It was organized by the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics, Novosibirsk, with support of the International Science and Technology Center.

The main objectives of the Symposium were to serve as a review of the progress in the development of accelerators for BNCT irradiation systems, as well as review clinical aspects. The program of Symposium included review lections, invited papers, contributed papers, round-table discussion, and ISTC seminar. The main topics of the papers were following: accelerator based neutron source; medical physics; treatment planning; clinical aspects. This meeting allowed to coordinate efforts of Russian investigating groups, some of which are supported by International Science and Technology Center.

S. Taskaev
Editor
Novosibirsk, July 21, 2004