| Abstrakt: |
The element boron (B) is in the IIIA group of the periodic table, with atom number 5 and molecular weight of 10.81 mol/g. B is a rare element involving many biological processes such as embryonic development, bone structure, and function, oxidative stress, etc. Over the last decades, studies have shown that B-containing compounds regulate reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, involve DNA damage mechanisms, and inhibit different enzymes. Improvements in medicine led researchers to think about B's potential usage in cancer diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Nowadays, different research groups have studied B-based compounds on several types of cancer including prostate, lung, breast, colon, skin, brain, melanoma, etc. Studies revealed that B compounds can affect different types of cancers with different pathways/mechanisms. Based on the potential therapeutic effects of B, the first B-containing anti-cancer drug and a first-in-class proteasome inhibitor Bortezomib (Velcade®), was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2003. On the other hand, boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a very important clinical cancer treatment based on B and B-containing delivery agents. During the past 20 years, researchers developed several new B delivery agents both for BNCT and B itself. In summary, this review article offers an overview of B compounds used for cancer diagnosis and treatment, delivery agents for BNCT, new therapeutic approaches containing B carriers, and novel B-based cancer detection approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
