The ideal treatment against cancer involves destroying the cancerous tumor cells without affecting the nearby healthy cells in the human body. However, current cancer treatments like surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotheraphy can damage the healthy tissues surrounding the tumor cells. The effectiveness of the treatment is also not assured as the tumor cells may return. The use of boron in an experimental cancer treatment may bring good news in the fight against cancer.

The treatment called Boron neutron capture therapy involves injecting the stable isotope of boron into the patient. As the isotope attaches itself to the tumor cells, a beam of low-energy neutron is then used to disintegrate boron-10. The tumor cells are destroyed in the process, but this leaves the nearby healthy cells intact. Currently, BNCT is being used as an alternative therapy against brain cancer and neck. But scientists have yet to prove that this treatment is better than the current types of therapy.