VITA Accelerator Neutron Sources: Status and Research Results

Purpose: To develop an accelerator neutron source suitable for boron neutron capture therapy—a new promising method for treating malignant tumors—and to develop dosimetry tools and methods. Methods: Research into the transport and acceleration of a beam of charged particles, development and manufacture of an accelerator neutron source, study of the radiation generated, and development and implementation of dosimetry tools and methods. Results: A facility called VITA has been created, which includes a tandem electrostatic accelerator of an original design for producing a 2.3 MeV 10 mA proton beam, a lithium target for generating neutrons in the 7Li(p,n)7Be reaction, and a beam shaping assembly for forming a therapeutic neutron beam. The facility at the institute is used for scientific research, the facility in Xiamen (China) is used for clinical trials, and the facility in Moscow (Russia) will soon be used for clinical trials. Also, new tools and methods for measuring the boron dose, γ-ray dose, and sum of the fast neutron dose and the nitrogen dose have been proposed and implemented. The conducted studies demonstrated the high efficiency of the VITA® facility, the first possibility of implementing prompt γ-ray spectroscopy for boron imaging, and the first possibility of implementing lithium neutron capture therapy, which has advantages over BNCT, and also presented the results of the development of new tools and methods for measuring the boron dose, γ-ray dose, and the sum of the fast neutron dose and the nitrogen dose. Conclusions: The authors strongly recommend using prompt γ-ray spectroscopy in treatment and developing lithium neutron capture therapy, including in combination with BNCT, and note the high efficiency, reliability and compactness of the VITA® facility.