To summarize evidence indicating that BNCT induces bystander and abscopal effects.
Approach:
Bystander and Abscopal Effects: The review discusses how BNCT can elicit biological responses in non-irradiated cells and distant tumors, linking these effects to systemic immune responses.
Integration with Immunotherapy: It proposes combining BNCT with immunotherapeutic approaches to enhance systemic antitumor effects.
Key Findings:
BNCT selectively kills tumor cells while sparing normal tissues.
Localized BNCT induces bystander effects in neighboring non-irradiated cells.
BNCT can suppress the growth of distant tumors, indicating abscopal effects.
Interpretation:
The findings suggest that BNCT has broader biological effects beyond direct tumor cell killing, potentially engaging systemic antitumor mechanisms.
Limitations:
Most evidence regarding bystander and abscopal effects in BNCT is preliminary and anecdotal.
Further mechanistic studies are needed to fully understand these phenomena.
Conclusion:
BNCT may serve as both a precision local radiotherapy and a trigger for systemic immunological effects, warranting further investigation into combination strategies.
