Cobaltabis(Dicarbollide) - for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy of Head and Neck Cancer: Biodistribution and Irradiation Studies in an Experimental Oral Cancer Model

Sep 21, 2026

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Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) delivers tumor-selective particle radiation by combining preferential boron accumulation in tumors with neutron irradiation. This study assessed the biodistribution of the sodium salt of cobaltabis(dicarbollide) (Na[o-COSAN]) in a hamster cheek pouch oral cancer model and evaluated Na[o-COSAN]/BNCT effects on tumor control and induced radiotoxicity. Synthesis and characterization of 10B-enriched and related salts are reported, with in vivo dosing, time-point sampling, and BNCT treatment. Na[o-10COSAN] showed no toxicity, while BNCT produced significant therapeutic effects and time-resolved mucositis.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages12

Reading Time30 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

Materials and Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusions

pharmaceuticals Article Cobaltabis(Dicarbollide) [ o-COSAN] − for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy of Head and Neck Cancer: Biodistribution and Irradiation Studies in an Experimental Oral Cancer Model Mónica A. Palmieri 1,*, Andrea Monti Hughes 2,3, *, Verónica A. Trivillin 2,3, Marcela A. Garabalino 2, Paula S. Ramos 2, Silvia I. Thorp 4, Paula Curotto 5, Emiliano C. C. Pozzi 5, Miquel Nuez Martínez 6, Francesc Teixidor 6, Clara Viñas 6 and Amanda E. Schwint 2,3 Citation: Palmieri, M.A.; Monti Hughes, A.; Trivillin, V.A.; Garabalino, M.A.; Ramos, P.S.; Thorp, S.I.; Curotto, P.; Pozzi, E.C.C.; Nuez Martínez, M.; Teixidor, F.; et al. Cobaltabis(Dicarbollide) [o-COSAN] − for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy of Head and Neck Cancer: Biodistribution and Irradiation Studies in an Experimental Oral Cancer Model. Pharmaceuticals 2024, 17, 1367. [https://doi.org/10.3390/](https://doi.org/10.3390/)[ ](https://doi.org/10.3390/)ph17101367 Academic Editors: Luigi Panza and Daniela Imperio Received: 6 September 2024 Revised: 7 October 2024 Accepted: 10 October 2024 Published: 14 October 2024 Copyright: © 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license ([https://](https://)[ ](https://)[creativecommons.org/licenses/by/](creativecommons.org/licenses/by/)[ ](creativecommons.org/licenses/by/)[4.0/](4.0/)) . 1 Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental (DBBE), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (FCEN)-Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Ciudad Autónomade Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina 2 División Patología de la Radiación, Departamento de Radiobiología, Gerencia Química Nuclear y Ciencias dela Salud, Gerencia de Área Aplicaciones Nucleares a la Salud (GAANS), Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica (CNEA), Buenos Aires B1650KNA, Argentina; [trivilli@cnea.gov.ar](trivilli@cnea.gov.ar) (V.A.T.); garabalino@cnea.gov.ar (M.A.G.); paula.sofi.ramos@gmail.com (P.S.R.); mandyschwint@gmail.com (A.E.S.) 3 Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires B1425FQB, Argentina 4 Sub-Gerencia Instrumentación y Control, Gerencia de Área Producción de Radioisótopos y Aplicaciones de la Radiación (GAPRyAR), Centro Atómico Ezeiza (CAE), Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica (CNEA), Buenos Aires B1802AYA, Argentina; [silviathorp@cnea.gob.ar](silviathorp@cnea.gob.ar) 5 Departamento de Reactores de Investigación y Producción, Gerencia de Área Producción de Radioisótopos y Aplicaciones de la Radiación (GAPRyAR), Centro Atómico Ezeiza (CAE), Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica (CNEA), Buenos Aires B1802AYA, Argentina; [curotto@cae.cnea.gov.ar](curotto@cae.cnea.gov.ar) (P.C.); [epozzi@cnea.gob.ar](epozzi@cnea.gob.ar) (E.C.C.P.) 6 Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona (ICMAB)-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 08193 Bellaterra, Spain; [mnuez@icmab.es](mnuez@icmab.es) (M.N.M.); [teixidor@icmab.es](teixidor@icmab.es) (F.T.); [clara@icmab.es](clara@icmab.es) (C.V.) * [Correspondence: monica.ale.palmieri@gmail.com](Correspondence: monica.ale.palmieri@gmail.com) (M.A.P.); [andre.mh@gmail.com or](andre.mh@gmail.com or)[ ](andre.mh@gmail.com or)[montihug@cnea.gov.ar](montihug@cnea.gov.ar) (A.M.H.); Tel.: +54-11-6772-7148 (A.M.H.) Abstract: Background: Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a tumor-selective particle radiotherapy that combines preferential boron accumulation in tumors and neutron irradiation. Based on previous studies in tumor-bearing mice, this study evaluated the biodistribution of the sodium salt of cobaltabis(dicarbollide) (Na[3,3′-Co(C 2B9H11 )2], abbreviated as Na[o-COSAN]) in the hamster cheek pouch oral cancer model and the Na[o-COSAN]/BNCT therapeutic effect on tumors and induced radiotoxicity. The synthesis and comprehensive characterization of 10B-enriched trimethylammonium salt o

FAQs

What is the purpose of evaluating Na[o-COSAN] in the oral cancer model?

To determine how Na[o-COSAN] distributes across tissues and organs and to support assessment of BNCT effects on tumors and radiotoxicity in the experimental hamster cheek pouch oral cancer model.

How were hamsters treated to measure boron uptake?

Hamsters bearing tumors received an injection of Na[o-COSAN] at 7.5 mg B/kg and were euthanized at multiple post-administration time points (30 min, 2, 3, 5, and 18 h) to quantify boron uptake in tissues and organs.

What outcomes were reported for Na[o-10COSAN]/BNCT therapy?

Na[o-10COSAN] showed no toxicity, and Na[o-10COSAN]/BNCT induced a high and significant therapeutic effect on tumors versus untreated controls. Mucositis occurred in half the animals in the dose-limiting precancerous tissue and resolved completely at 21 days after irradiation.

Sep 21, 2026

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