Inquiries 
BNCT:
Another Hope
for Cancer
Edogawa Hospital’s BNCT program is the first in Japan used to
treat breast cancer and is now accepting patients from overseas.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Edogawa Hospital Group has started a large-scale joint effort with Tsinghua University Group in the field of cancer radiotherapy
Outline of the Strategic Cooperation Agreement (Signed May 15, 2025)
Edogawa Hospital Group and Tsinghua University Group will engage in a large-scale strategic, innovative, and sustainable cooperation effort in the field of cancer radiotherapy. The aim of this cooperation agreement is to have a favorable effect both socially and economically on China and Japan. Specifically, Tsinghua University Group will establish a BNCT consultation center in Beijing with the help of Edogawa Hospital Group. This will give patients opportunities to have online face-to-face consultations for BNCT treatment.
The opening date of the Beijing BNCT Consultation Center will be announced as soon as it is finalized.
Cutting-Edge
Cancer Treatment
BNCT (Boron Neutron Capture Therapy) is on the cutting edge of radiation cancer therapies. Accelerator-based BNCT, like many of the treatments offered at Edogawa Hospital, have been proven effective in treating cancers of the head, neck, skin and lungs. Our BNCT team has also successfully treated breast cancer and several other cancer types not covered by NHI, helping to show the versatility of BNCT as a cancer therapy.
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Boron
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Neutron
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Capture
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Therapy
What is BNCT?
First developed in the 1950s, BNCT (Boron Neutron Capture Therapy) destroys cancer cells through the use of boron and highly targeted radiation. All the targeted cells are destroyed after a single application of the therapy.
Benefits and Advantages
Unlike other radiation therapies, BNCT can be used to treat recurrent, invasive, and refractory cancers with minimal risk. The process is also shorter than most other cancer therapies, with minimal recovery time and less severe side effects.
BNCT targets cancer cells specifically, meaning that the surrounding healthy cells are not damaged in the same way as conventional radiation therapies using protons or
carbon ions.
BNCT has proven particularly effective at treating cancers of the head, neck, and skin. At Edogawa Hospital, BNCT is being used as part of a pilot program to treat certain
types of breast cancer, including cancer that has already been treated with radiation. So far the program has met with great success.
Case Studies
As one of only a few places in the world to practice accelerator-based BNCT, Edogawa Hospital regularly publishes case studies on the effective use of Boron Neutron Capture Therapy. We specialize in BNCT for treating not only cancers of the skin, head, and neck, but also breast cancer, particularly in cases where the patient has already received treatment.
Treatment Example
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STEP 1
Initial Contact and Consultation
Please contact us via the Inquiries page to schedule an initial consultation and confirm that BNCT is the right therapy for you.
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STEP 2
Scheduling
After the first appointment, you will work with your medical coordinator and our doctors to schedule your treatment and stay in Japan.
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STEP 3
Travel and Treatment
Once your treatment date has been determined you can work out the details of your trip with your medical coordinator and our doctors.
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STEP 4
Recovery and Follow Up Treatment
After the therapy you will need to stay in the hospital to ensure a full recovery for a few days. After you have been discharged, you can travel Japan or return to your home country until your next scheduled appointment.
Our Specialists
Takashi Nakano
MD, PhD
Head of the Tokyo Edogawa Cancer Center
Dr. Nakano studied medicine at Gunma University. He is an Emeritus Professor at Gunma University and a professor at Fukushima Medical University.
He worked as a doctor for over 20 years and has been leading the fields of radiology and particle therapy with his research and management. He has previously been the vice chancellor for Gunma University, the head of Gunma University’s Particle Research Center, and the head of neutron therapy at the Japanese National Institute for Quantum Science and Technology (QST).
He has represented Japan at both the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) RCA medical committee and at the Federation of Asian Organizations for Radiation Oncology (FARO), the latter of which he was a founding member and Secretary General.
He has been awarded a Gold Medal by the Japanese Society for Radiation Oncology (JASTRO) and a Commendation from the Minister of Foreign Affairs among other awards for his work in radiation medicine.
Jun Itami
MD, PhD
Radiation Oncologist, Former Head Radiation Oncology at the National Cancer Center Hospital
After graduating from Chiba University’s medical program and completing his oncology residency at Chiba University Hospital, Dr. Itami entered a second residency at Essen University Hospital in Germany in 1983. He is currently the head of the Shin-Matsudo Accuracy Radiation Therapy Center and the advisory doctor for Edogawa Hospital’s BNCT program. He also brought BNCT to the National Cancer Center Japan and has led numerous clinical trials there.
Hiromasa Kurosaki
MD, PhD
Head of Radiology Department
Dr. Kurosaki received both his MD and PhD from Gunma University before beginning his practice at Toranomon Hospital. He then became head of the radiology department at Shinjuku Medical Center before joining Edogawa Hospital as Head of Radiology in 2021.
Tatsuya Nakamura
MD, PhD
Before joining Edogawa Hospital as head radiologist in 2022, Dr. Nakamura worked at the Aichi Cancer Center, the Southern TOHOKU Proton Therapy Center, and IGT Clinic's Radiology Department. Dr. Nakamura acquired his medical degree from Hamamatsu University School of Medicine and his PhD from Nagoya University.
Edogawa Hospital
Founded in 1932, Edogawa Hospital is one of the largest general hospitals in eastern Tokyo. We offer state-of-the-art multimodal cancer therapies to Japanese and
international patients alike. We treat our patients with radiation therapy, surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or a combination of therapies.
Our cutting-edge BNCT program is one of the few effective treatments for recurrent cancers, in particular, recurrent breast cancer.
Want to learn more?
Contact one of our medical tourism providers for more information
on BNCT and other treatments offered by Edogawa Hospital.
Want to learn more?
Contact one of our medical tourism providers for more information
on BNCT and other treatments offered by Edogawa Hospital.