Hadassah Hospital Pioneers Alpha Radiation Treatment for Recurrent Glioblastoma in Israel

Hadassah Medical Center in Ein Kerem, Jerusalem, has become the first facility in Israel to treat recurrent glioblastoma, an aggressive brain tumor, using a novel alpha radiation therapy. The experimental treatment was administered to a 77-year-old patient whose tumor returned despite standard surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.

The procedure involved implanting tiny alpha radiation sources directly into the tumor using Alpha DaRT technology, which emits highly effective alpha particles that act over a very short range. This approach aims to maximize tumor targeting while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy brain tissue. The implantation was guided by a neurosurgical navigation system with millimeter precision, allowing a minimally invasive and highly localized treatment without extensive brain surgery.

The clinical trial is the first of its kind in Israel and is led by Professor Yigal Shoshan, head of the Neuro-Oncology and Stereotactic Radiosurgery Unit at Hadassah. The treatment development was a multi-year collaboration between Hadassah’s neurosurgery and oncology departments and the Israeli company Alpha Tau, involving extensive laboratory research, preclinical animal studies, and surgical simulations.

Glioblastoma is the most common malignant primary brain tumor in adults, with 150 to 250 new cases diagnosed annually in Israel. Despite aggressive standard treatments, the tumor frequently recurs, and median survival remains around 15 to 16 months, with only about 10% of patients surviving five years. Current options for recurrent disease are very limited, making innovative therapies like this critical to explore.

Preliminary results from a parallel U.S. study (REGAIN) show promising local tumor control in the first treated patients, though the sample size is small and efficacy remains to be confirmed. Hadassah plans to expand the clinical trial to include patients with brain metastases who have limited treatment options. The current Phase I trial focuses primarily on assessing safety and feasibility before evaluating treatment effectiveness.

Alpha Tau CEO Uzi Sofer emphasized the significance of bringing this Israeli-developed technology to patients in Israel, calling it both a scientific and national milestone. While the treatment offers new hope for patients with recurrent glioblastoma, it is still experimental and not yet approved for routine clinical use.