Gachon University Gil Medical Center is challenging brain tumor treatment with the world's first theranostic platform combining Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) and 11.74T MRI.
The hospital announced Wednesday that it recently held the Korea-U.S. Innovation R&D International Symposium at the Lee Gil Ya Cancer and Diabetes Institute under the theme of "Cutting-edge Innovative Medical Technology for Overcoming Brain Diseases." Approximately 50 medical professionals and researchers from Korea and abroad attended the event hosted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Health Industry Development Institute.
The core technology is theranostics, an innovative platform that performs therapy and diagnosis simultaneously. The system treats intractable brain tumors such as glioblastoma and head and neck cancer with BNCT while providing real-time precision diagnosis using the world's highest-specification 11.74T MRI.
This research is part of the Korea-U.S. Innovation R&D project selected by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in July last year. It is a national project in which Korean research-focused hospitals collaborate with the United States to establish global medical standards.
Professor Minesh Mehta from the Miami Cancer Center attended in person to discuss collaboration plans. Gachon University Gil Medical Center will collaborate with the Miami Cancer Center throughout the entire process of clinical trial design, patient selection, and treatment efficacy verification. Both institutions are also pursuing joint Korea-U.S. conferences and the operation of a medical verification committee.
Professor Lee Ki-taek of neurosurgery reported that "domestic A-BNCT clinical trials are progressing smoothly." Professor Seo Hyo-jung of radiation oncology introduced the development process for International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standardization of proton accelerator-based BNCT.
Professor Kim Kyung-nam presented 11.74T MRI optimization technology, while Professor Kim Young-jae proposed medical AI utilization strategies. The research team plans to develop AI-based prognosis prediction algorithms to implement personalized treatment.
BNCT is a fourth-generation treatment that accumulates boron compounds in cancer cells and then irradiates neutrons to selectively destroy them. It can eliminate cancer cells while minimizing damage to normal tissue. The 11.74T MRI detects even microscopic tumors with the highest resolution currently available.
"We will expand our precision treatment system developed with domestic technology to the global stage," hospital director Kim Woo-kyung said. "Through joint Korea-U.S. research, we will present a new paradigm for treating intractable brain tumors."
Gachon University Gil Medical Center aims to begin BNCT Phase 2 clinical trials within this year and targets commercialization by 2027.