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Description
Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is an emerging binary targeted radiotherapy modality that selectively destroys cancer cells while sparing surrounding healthy tissue. It offers significant advantages for treating invasive, recurrent, or metastatic refractory tumors, such as glioma, melanoma, and recurrent head and neck cancers. An IHEP-developed BNCT clinical facility is located at Dongguan People's Hospital. The facility is based on an accelerator system comprising an ion source and a radio-frequency quadrupole (RFQ) accelerator, and includes three treatment rooms.
The system has been installed and operated at Dongguan People's Hospital since 2024. The neutron flux density meets IAEA clinical standards. The equipment successfully passed the national Class III medical device registration inspection on March, 2025, fulfilling the necessary qualifications for clinical trials.
Since the initiation of Phase I clinical trials in August 2025, a total of 21 patients with recurrent head and neck tumors have completed treatment as of mid-2026, with favorable efficacy and minimal side effects reported. The project is currently advancing toward Phase II clinical trials, with plans to complete all clinical trials and obtain marketing approval from the National Medical Products Administration.