Israeli Hospital Pioneers Innovative Alpha Radiation Treatment for Aggressive Brain Cancer

For the first time in Israel, a patient with recurrent glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, received a novel alpha radiation treatment at Hadassah Medical Center in Ein Kerem. The procedure, conducted as part of a phase one clinical trial, involved the simultaneous insertion of alpha radiation sources into the tumor from two different trajectories to achieve precise and optimal coverage of the cancerous area. This approach aims to maximize tumor targeting while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy brain tissue.

The patient, a 77-year-old man named Amnon (a pseudonym), had previously undergone surgery, radiation, and drug therapy, but his tumor recurred. The new treatment, developed by the Israeli company Alpha Tau, uses tiny sources emitting alpha particles with a very short range, concentrating radiation within the tumor. This method was integrated with advanced neurosurgical navigation systems to ensure millimeter-level precision without requiring extensive brain surgery.

Professor Yigal Shoshan, head of the neuro-oncology and stereotactic radiosurgery unit at Hadassah, led the multidisciplinary team performing the procedure. He emphasized that the treatment is the culmination of years of research, including laboratory studies, preclinical animal models, and development of specialized applicators. The clinical trial also builds on previous uses of the technology in advanced head and neck, pancreatic, skin, and lung cancers.

Glioblastoma is the most common primary malignant brain tumor in adults, with limited treatment options upon recurrence. Survival rates remain low, with only about 10% of patients living five years post-diagnosis. Parallel research in the United States has shown promising early results, including complete local disease control in treated areas.

Hadassah plans to expand the clinical trial to include patients with brain metastases, especially those unresponsive to surgery or stereotactic radiosurgery. Alpha Tau CEO Uzi Sofer highlighted the significance of bringing this Israeli-developed technology to patients in Israel. The current trial primarily assesses feasibility and safety, with future phases intended to evaluate clinical effectiveness.