Researchers in Russia have announced a pioneering achievement in cancer therapy, demonstrating for the first time in the world that large mammals such as dogs and cats can be treated for malignant tumors using boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) in a facility powered by an accelerator neutron source. The news, reported by DEA News with reference to the Institute for Nuclear Physics and the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, outlines a series of experiments conducted at INP SB RAS where the studies took place.
In the described trials, the animals received a boron-containing medication and were then exposed to a controlled neutron beam produced by an accelerator. Following this treatment, researchers observed a regression in the tumors and notable improvements in the overall health and condition of the animals.
According to the lead researchers, this represents a world first for in vivo studies using an accelerator to administer BNCT in large mammals, marking a significant milestone on the path toward eventual human clinical trials. The project involved the careful monitoring of the subjects throughout the irradiation process, with the experiment documenting the treatment of fifteen cats and dogs that presented with malignant tumors. Before irradiation, the animals were given a drug designed to deliver boron precisely to tumor cells, after which they were placed under anesthesia and positioned in the device for treatment. The irradiation period averaged about two hours, during which key physiological parameters were continuously monitored to ensure safety and stability.
The researchers emphasize that the observed BNCT effects were evident not only in small laboratory models such as cell cultures and mice, but also in larger mammals closer to human biology in terms of tumor structure and response. This practical extension to large animals is portrayed as a major step toward integrating BNCT techniques into routine medical practice, potentially broadening the spectrum of cancers that may be addressed with this approach. The study is attributed to Vladimir Kanygin, who leads the laboratory of nuclear and innovative medicine within the physics faculty of Novosibirsk State University, where the research was coordinated.
Participants underscore that the testing focused on animals with naturally occurring tumors and without prior vaccination, aligning with the importance of realistic disease models. Dogs and cats tend to develop cancers in similar organs to humans, which supports the relevance of these models for understanding how BNCT may behave in human patients. The biological and therapeutic responses observed in pet animals are viewed as informative indicators of how similar tumors might respond in people, providing insight into tolerance, efficacy, and potential side effects in a clinical setting.
Russia has launched a state program designed to move the accelerator-based BNCT technology toward clinical application. The plan outlines the production of the accelerator neutron source at the Institute for Nuclear Physics and its delivery to a clinical research center for preclinical and early clinical evaluation in the near term. The project envisions collaboration with a leading oncology research facility to conduct studies that will help define optimal dosing, safety parameters, and monitoring protocols as BNCT enters a broader medical research phase, with the aim of advancing toward patient-centered trials in the coming years.
Boron neutron capture therapy is a targeted treatment strategy that seeks to concentrate the boron-10 isotope within malignant tumor cells. When these boron-rich cells are subsequently exposed to a beam of neutrons, a reaction occurs that preferentially damages the cancer cells while limiting harm to surrounding healthy tissue. This mechanism—centered on selective boron uptake and precise neutron exposure—forms the core concept behind BNCT and explains the research community’s cautious optimism about its potential to expand therapeutic options for challenging cancers.