Israel Performs First Alpha Radiation Treatment on Recurrent Brain Tumor Patient

A 77-year-old man with recurrent glioblastoma became the first patient in Israel to receive treatment using Alpha DaRT technology. This innovative therapy, conducted at Hadassah Medical Center in Ein Kerem as part of a clinical trial, involves implanting tiny sources of alpha radiation directly into the tumor to target cancer cells while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy brain tissue. The patient had previously undergone surgery, radiation, and drug therapy before the tumor recurred.

The procedure marked a global first by implanting radiation sources into the brain tumor simultaneously from two different trajectories to maximize tumor coverage and precision. The surgery was led by Professor Yigal Shoshan, head of the Neuro-Oncology and Stereotactic Radiosurgery Unit at Hadassah, with a multidisciplinary team including neurosurgeons, oncologists, radiotherapists, and neuropathologists. The treatment was guided by neurosurgical navigation systems, allowing precise placement without extensive brain surgery.

This clinical application follows years of research collaboration between Hadassah’s neurosurgery department, the Sharet Institute of Oncology, and the Israeli company Alpha Tau. The Phase I trial primarily assesses the feasibility and safety of the method in patients with recurrent glioblastoma. Glioblastoma is the most common malignant primary brain tumor in adults, with limited treatment options upon recurrence. Approximately 150 to 250 new cases are diagnosed annually in Israel, with median survival around 15 to 16 months and only 10% surviving five years.

Preclinical studies suggest alpha radiation may also stimulate immune responses against tumors in other brain regions, a possibility under active investigation. Concurrently, the US-based REGAIN trial has reported preliminary results showing local disease control in treated areas. Hadassah plans to expand the clinical program to patients with brain metastases unresponsive to surgery or stereotactic radiosurgery. Alpha Tau CEO Uzi Sofer called the first Israeli treatment a significant milestone, emphasizing the importance of bringing Israeli-developed technology to local patients alongside its global use.