Taipei VGH Boron Neutron Capture Therapy Accelerator Installed, 47% Survival Rate for Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer
Taipei Veterans General Hospital (Taipei VGH) has installed an accelerator at its Boron Neutron Capture Therapy Center, aiming for operation in 2027. This therapy has shown excellent results, including a 2-year survival rate of 47% for recurrent head and neck cancer patients.
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- 📰 Published: May 4, 2026 at 19:27
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(Central News Agency reporter Chen Chieh-ling, Taipei, 4th) The accelerator for the Taipei Veterans General Hospital (Taipei VGH) Boron Neutron Capture Therapy Center was installed this afternoon, with completion and operation expected in 2027. During the construction period, Taipei VGH has already participated in clinical trials at Hsinchu Ho-Jung Experimental Center. Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) has achieved a 2-year survival rate of 47% for recurrent head and neck cancer.
Taipei Veterans General Hospital will become one of the few medical institutions in the world to possess both heavy particle therapy and boron neutron capture therapy. Superintendent Chen Wei-ming stated in a press release today that the hospital and National Tsing Hua University have been promoting the clinical application of accelerator-based Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) since 2010. To date, they have accumulated over 600 cases of experience, showing significant efficacy in treating recurrent head and neck cancer and brain tumors.
Chen Wei-ming pointed out that over one-third of Taipei VGH's inpatients are cancer patients, making the "introduction of advanced equipment imperative." After the Boron Neutron Capture Therapy Center becomes operational, it is hoped that it can be included as a formal treatment item approved by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, benefiting more patients. During the construction period, Taipei VGH has participated in clinical trials and compassionate use programs at the Hsinchu Ho-Jung Experimental Center, showing good preliminary results in treating various types of tumors.
Taipei VGH Deputy Superintendent Li Wei-chiang explained that Taipei VGH's accelerator-based Boron Neutron Capture Therapy has yielded fruitful clinical results, achieving a 2-year survival rate of 47% and an overall response rate of 65% for recurrent head and neck cancer patients. The efficacy response rate for glioblastoma compassionate use therapy reached 70.6%. Recently, approximately 200 treatments have been completed, and the indications have expanded to multiple cancer types, continuously increasing the scope of clinical application.
Liu Yu-ming, Director of Radiation Oncology at Taipei VGH, added that accelerator-based Boron Neutron Capture Therapy shows good control effects and low side effects for tumors that respond poorly to traditional treatments and highly radioresistant tumors. With the advancement of domestic accelerator technology, future applications will be further expanded, strengthening Taiwan's cancer treatment capabilities.
Huang Min-chi, founder and chairman of Hermes-Epitek Corporation, made a charitable donation to assist National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in establishing a full-system designed accelerator-based Boron Neutron Capture Therapy equipment and jointly promote the Taipei VGH Boron Neutron Capture Therapy Center. National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University President Lin Chi-hung stated that in the future, they will continue to deepen research and development capabilities, focusing on neutron source optimization, drug development, and the expansion of clinical applications.
Taipei Veterans General Hospital will become one of the few medical institutions in the world to possess both heavy particle therapy and boron neutron capture therapy. Superintendent Chen Wei-ming stated in a press release today that the hospital and National Tsing Hua University have been promoting the clinical application of accelerator-based Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) since 2010. To date, they have accumulated over 600 cases of experience, showing significant efficacy in treating recurrent head and neck cancer and brain tumors.
Chen Wei-ming pointed out that over one-third of Taipei VGH's inpatients are cancer patients, making the "introduction of advanced equipment imperative." After the Boron Neutron Capture Therapy Center becomes operational, it is hoped that it can be included as a formal treatment item approved by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, benefiting more patients. During the construction period, Taipei VGH has participated in clinical trials and compassionate use programs at the Hsinchu Ho-Jung Experimental Center, showing good preliminary results in treating various types of tumors.
Taipei VGH Deputy Superintendent Li Wei-chiang explained that Taipei VGH's accelerator-based Boron Neutron Capture Therapy has yielded fruitful clinical results, achieving a 2-year survival rate of 47% and an overall response rate of 65% for recurrent head and neck cancer patients. The efficacy response rate for glioblastoma compassionate use therapy reached 70.6%. Recently, approximately 200 treatments have been completed, and the indications have expanded to multiple cancer types, continuously increasing the scope of clinical application.
Liu Yu-ming, Director of Radiation Oncology at Taipei VGH, added that accelerator-based Boron Neutron Capture Therapy shows good control effects and low side effects for tumors that respond poorly to traditional treatments and highly radioresistant tumors. With the advancement of domestic accelerator technology, future applications will be further expanded, strengthening Taiwan's cancer treatment capabilities.
Huang Min-chi, founder and chairman of Hermes-Epitek Corporation, made a charitable donation to assist National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in establishing a full-system designed accelerator-based Boron Neutron Capture Therapy equipment and jointly promote the Taipei VGH Boron Neutron Capture Therapy Center. National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University President Lin Chi-hung stated that in the future, they will continue to deepen research and development capabilities, focusing on neutron source optimization, drug development, and the expansion of clinical applications.