Boron neutron capture therapy preserves immune cells and induces robust anti-tumour immunity in preclinical mouse model.

ABSTRACT: Radiotherapy can both activate and suppress immunity, making it difficult to predict or modulate these opposing effects for better cancer treatment. Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), a cellular-level radiotherapy, has demonstrated remarkable therapeutic efficacy in clinical practice, but mechanistically remains inadequately explored. Here, we compare the effects of BNCT with X-ray irradiation at equivalent radiation doses on immune cells and define the immunological mechanisms behind the improved therapeutic benefit of BNCT in mouse tumour models. We find that BNCT has a minimal effect on immune cell viability, while it triggers an immunogenic tumour cell death, ultimately inducing stronger anti-tumour immunity. Additionally, single-cell RNA sequencing indicates that BNCT reshapes the

SUBMITTER: Sun Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12864746 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature