Systems Biology Approach to Investigate Biomarkers, Boron-10 Carriers, and Mechanisms Useful for Improving Boron Neutron Capture Therapy

Systems biology approach, carried out with high-throughput omics technologies, has become a fundamentalaspect of the study of complex diseases like cancer. It can molecularly characterize subjects, physiopathologicalconditions, and interactions, allowing a precise description, to reach personalized medicine. In particular,proteomics, typically performed with liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, is a powerful toolfor systems biology, giving the possibility to perform diagnosis, patient stratification, and prediction of therapyeffects. Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) is a selective antitumoral radiotherapy based on a nuclearreaction that occurs when 10B atoms are irradiated by low-energy thermal neutrons, leading to cell death, thanksto the production of high-energy a particles. Since BNCT is recently becoming an important therapy for thetreatment of different types of solid tumors such as gliomas, head and neck cancers, and others, it can takeadvantage of molecular investigation to improve the understanding of effects and mechanisms and so help itsclinical applications. In this context, proteomics can provide a better understanding of mechanisms related toBNCT effect, identify potential biomarkers, and individuate differential responses by specific patients, stratifyingresponders and nonresponders. Another key aspect of BNCT is the study of new potential Boron-10 carriersto improve the selectivity of Boron delivery to tumors and proteomics can be important in this application,studying the effectiveness of new boron delivery agents, including protein-based carriers, also using computationalstudies that can investigate new molecules, such as boronated monoclonal antibodies, for improving BNCT.