The formulation of polyhedral boranes for the boron neutron capture therapy of cancer.

Abstract

The early promise of boron neutron capture therapy as a method for the treatment of cancer has been inhibited by the inherent toxicity associated with therapeutically useful doses of ¹⁰B-containing pharmacophores, the need for target-tissue specificity and the challenges imposed by biological barriers. Although developments in the synthetic chemistry of polyhedral boranes have addressed issues of toxicity to a considerable extent, the optimisation of the transport and the delivery of boronated agents to the site of action--the subject of this review--is a challenge that is addressed by the development of innovative formulation strategies.

• Authors: Gianpiero Calabrese, John J Nesnas, Eugen Barbu, Dimitris Fatouros, John Tsibouklis
• Journal: Drug discovery today (Drug Discov Today) Vol. 17 Issue 3-4 Pg. 153-9 (Feb 2012) ISSN: 1878-5832 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 21978988 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Boranes
• Boron Compounds

Topics

• Animals
• Biological Transport
• Boranes (chemistry, pharmacokinetics)
• Boron Compounds (adverse effects, chemistry, pharmacokinetics)
• Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (adverse effects, methods)
• Humans
• Neoplasms (radiotherapy)