Fission neutron therapy at FRM II: Indications and first results

Abstract Based on 15 years of experience with neutron therapy at the former facility at Munich research reactor FRM, fast neutron therapy with fission neutrons of FRM II is performed at the new facility MedApp since June 2007. General indications are superficially located tumors with insufficient response to conventional radiotherapy. Until August 2009, 58 patients were treated, 25% of them with curative intention (adenoid cystic carcinoma of major salivary glands, malignant melanoma, sarcoma). The most frequent palliative indications were breast wall recurrences of breast cancer and skin or lymph node recurrences of squamous cell carcinomas, resulting in response rates of 84% and 42%, respectively. Short treatment times of fast neutron therapy (3–5 fractions in 2–3 weeks) are advantageous in palliative treatment strategies.