Treatment of urogenital cancer with boron neutron capture therapy

摘要

Methods and compositions for treating urogenital tumors, and particular, cancer of the prostate, bladder, and kidney, with BCNT, are disclosed. Any boron-containing compound that is sufficiently lipophilic to pass through the appropriate urogenital membranes in a quantity high enough to achieve therapy on irradiation with low-energy neutrons can be used. Carboranyl-containing nucleosides and oligonucleotides are particularly suited for use in BNCT of urogenital tumors. Preferred compounds include 5-carboranyl-2'-deoxyuridine (CDU) and 5-o-carboranyl-1-(2-deoxy-2-fluoro- beta -D-arabinofuranosyl)uracil (CFAU). Nucleosides and oligonucleotides bearing an -O-[(carboran-1-yl)alkyl]phosphate, S-[(carboran-1-yl)alkyl]phosphorothioate, or Se-[(carboran-1-yl)alkyl]phosphoroselenoate in place of the (carboran-1-yl)phosphonate moiety can be used. Oligonucleotides of specific gene sequences that include one or more 3',5'-linking-(carboran-1-yl)phosphonate moieties can also be used in antisense therapy in the selective modification of gene expression. Compounds can be used in urogenital BNCT therapy that contain boron clusters as a means to enhance lipophilicity wherein the boron is not enriched in 10B, but instead, in the 11B isotope. The therapy is accomplished by administering the boron-containing compound by any appropriate route, including by intravenous injection, oral delivery or by catheter or other direct means, in such a manner that the compound accumulates in the target tumor. After desired accumulation of the compound in the tumor, the site is irradiated with an effective amount of low energy neutrons.