AUTHOR=Zhou Zihan , Chen Yunhao , Wang Yao , Hong Yafang , Guan Hongdan , Huang Fenghao , Fu Fenfang , Li Xiaobo , Zheng Rong , Xu Benhua 

TITLE=‘Cell knife’ for cancer: the clinician’s perspective

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=Volume 16 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1536355

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2025.1536355

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT), often referred to as the ‘cell knife,’ represents a binary, tumor-selective therapeutic modality that minimizes damage to surrounding healthy tissues. This review provides a comprehensive clinical perspective on BNCT, addressing the radiobiological mechanisms and summarizing related clinical trials, with a particular emphasis on glioma and head and neck cancers. Furthermore, the paper touches upon the synergistic potential of BNCT when integrated with other treatment modalities, such as proton and carbon ion radiotherapy, alternative neutron capture therapies, ultrasound, and immunotherapy. These combined approaches may offer promising avenues for future research, potentially enhancing the therapeutic index and expanding the applicability of BNCT in oncological practice.