Business Wire

NTHU

25.3.2020 10:02:10 CET | Business Wire | Press release

Share
NTHU’s Boron Neutron Capture Therapy Center Begins Treating Overseas Brain Cancer Patients

On February 14th the melodious strains of the fourth movement of Mahler's Fifth Symphony were heard inside the building of Tsing Hua Open pool Reactor (THOR) at National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) - for this is the favorite piece of music of a European woman who was here to undergo Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) for a malignant brain tumor. This was her second course of treatment. The size of malignant glioma deep in her brainstem was reduced from 3.51 cm to 1.06 cm after the first treatment.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200325005023/en/

In cooperation with the Taipei Veterans General Hospital (TVGH), NTHU has converted THOR for use in BNCT. To date, the treatment has provided a new lease on life to over 130 cancer patients from around the world.

According to Professor Chou Fong-in, BNCT is a target radiation therapy in which the patient is first injected with a boron-containing drug; once the drug has accumulated in the tumor, the neutron beam is used to irradiate the tumor for delivering curative doses specifically to tumors, while sparing normal tissue.

As explained by TVGH oncologist Chen Yi-wei, boron-10 drug contains the structure like essential amino acids, and cancer cells need lots of nutrients to support their abnormal proliferation. Thus cancerous cells absorb almost all the boron-10 before the normal cells have a chance to. The boron acts as a kind of explosive charge, and once the cancerous cells have got their fill of it, the neutron beam is used to “detonate” the charge, killing off the cancer cells.

The husband of the patient is a physician. He said that his wife used to be an avid tennis player, but four years ago she unexpectedly saw two balls flying towards her at the same time, a classic symptom of diplopia. A computerized tomography (CT) scan, however, later revealed a lesion of glioma in her brain, located deep inside her brainstem. After undergoing two craniotomies with gamma knife radiotherapy, the glioma relapsed and had turned malignant. On the advice of an expert of Radiation Oncology, they inquired about the treatment being offered at the TVGH.

According to Dr. Chen, the key requirements for BNCT are a boron-containing drug suitable for absorption by cancer cells, and a stable neutron source with appropriate energy spectrum. NTHU’s research reactor has been retrofitted to provide the neutron source. It is even better than the accelerator driven neutron source developed in Japan for use in hospitals.

NTHU and the Taoyuan City Government are planning to jointly develop a medical complex as part of the Taoyuan Aerotropolis to be built near the Taoyuan Airport. The BNCT will play a major role at the new facility, and will be used to treat both Taiwanese and overseas patients.

Link:

ClickThru

Social Media:

https://www.facebook.com/nthu.tw

About Business Wire

Business Wire
Business Wire
101 California Street, 20th Floor
CA 94111 San Francisco

http://businesswire.com

Subscribe to releases from Business Wire

Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Latest releases from Business Wire

EcoOnline Recognised as a Leader in Verdantix Green Quadrant: EHS Software 2026 for Third Time21.9.2026 18:43:00 CEST | Press release

EcoOnline achieved highest score for Safety Management and ranked among the top three vendors for Chemicals Management, Training and Contractor Safety with Lone Worker Protection a key differentiator. EcoOnline, the global provider of software that transforms how organisations protect people and the planet, has been recognised for the third consecutive time as a Leader in the independent Verdantix Green Quadrant: EHS Software 2026 report, with market-leading strength in Safety Management. The assessment evaluated leading vendors of environmental, health and safety software vendors across a range of capabilities and customer buying signals. Verdantix recognised EcoOnline’s strength in the areas organisations rely on to protect workers every day: Safety Management, Chemicals Management, AI-enabled Training and Contractor Safety. It reflects the changing needs of EHS buyers, who are increasingly looking for integrated platforms that connect everyday safety with broader operational risk an

rhode Announces the Return of Limited Edition Favorites and New Exclusives at Sephora Across Europe and the U.K.21.9.2026 15:00:00 CEST | Press release

rhode, the beauty brand founded by Hailey Rhode Bieber and part of e.l.f. Beauty (NYSE: ELF), has announced that two community-favorite Peptide Lip Tints and a new Sephora-exclusive bag will launch at Sephora across Europe and the U.K. to celebrate the brand’s launch into Sephora in Europe on September 30, 2026. These items will join the brand’s assortment of high-performance skincare and hybrid makeup. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260921199856/en/ rhode announces the return of limited edition favorites and new exclusives at Sephora across Europe and the U.K. To mark the occasion with Sephora across Europe and the U.K., rhode is offering early access to purchase fan-favorite, previously limited edition Peptide Lip Tint in Pretzel at Sephora in Europe and the U.K. on the brand’s launch date September 30, before the product joins rhode’s permanent assortment globally on rhodeskin.com on October 1 and at all r

Pierre Le Manh to Step Down as PMI President and CEO21.9.2026 14:45:00 CEST | Press release

Project Management Institute (PMI), the leading authority in project management, today announced that Pierre Le Manh has decided to step down as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective September 30, 2026. Johannes Heinlein, Chief Growth Officer, has been appointed Interim President & Chief Executive Officer of PMI, also effective September 30, 2026. Pierre Le Manh joined PMI in September 2022. During his four-year tenure, he led the development and execution of PMI’s current strategy, strengthened its leadership team, expanded its capabilities through acquisitions and partnerships, and positioned PMI for a profession being rapidly transformed by artificial intelligence and a greater focus on project success. “On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Pierre Le Manh for his leadership and his commitment to PMI,” said Ike Nwankwo, Chair of the PMI Board of Directors. “PMI has a clear strategy, a strong leadership team and significant momentum. Pierre leaves the organization well p

Lenovo and Schneider Electric Partner to Bring Decarbonization Tools and Expertise to IT Channel Partners21.9.2026 14:10:00 CEST | Press release

New partnership gives channel partners a practical pathway to measure emissions, build decarbonization roadmaps, and demonstrate sustainability progress Lenovo today announced that Schneider Electric, a global energy technology leader, will join Lenovo 360 Circle as a strategic ally to bring decarbonization expertise and management tools directly to IT channel partners. Lenovo 360 Circle is Lenovo’s global sustainability community, bringing together channel partners worldwide to collaborate on shared challenges, accelerate sustainability transformation, and turn sustainability ambitions into business opportunities. Through its Allyship program, Lenovo 360 Circle connects partners with leading technology and industry organizations to enable collaboration and provide access to specialized expertise that helps partners accelerate their sustainability goals. As its newest strategic ally, Schneider Electric will bring its Decarbonization Champion initiative to the community, giving eligible

Serbian Biotech Startup Takes Its Journey from Belgrade to Cambridge with Documentary on Longevity Science21.9.2026 13:02:00 CEST | Press release

BioEridan, a Serbian biotechnology company backed by Telekom Srbija Group’s TS Ventures Fund, has premiered a documentary charting its journey from an early scientific project in Belgrade to an emerging biotechnology venture focused on longevity research BioEridan, a Serbian biotechnology startup backed by Telekom Srbija Group’s TS Ventures Fund, has premiered a new documentary showcasing its development of underwater Aquafarms and its ambition to contribute to the next generation of longevity science. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260921345879/en/ BioEridan Documentary Premiere BioEridan: Science Beneath the Surface premiered in Belgrade on September 15 before being screened the following day at a UK-Serbia Health, Digital Transformation & Innovation roundtable held at Christ’s College, University of Cambridge, as part of Cambridge Tech Week 2026. The roundtable brought together prominent representatives fr

In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.

Visit our pressroom
World GlobeA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.HiddenA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.Eye