A 77-year-old man with recurrent glioblastoma has become the first patient in Israel to undergo an experimental Alpha DaRT treatment as part of a clinical trial at Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center.

Glioblastoma is the most common malignant primary brain cancer in adults and has limited treatment options when it returns. Despite surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, the disease recurs in the vast majority of patients.

The procedure was led by Prof. Yigal Shoshan, director of the Neuro-Oncology and Stereotactic Radiosurgery Unit, together with a multidisciplinary team.

Alpha DaRT technology works by inserting tiny sources that emit alpha particles directly into the tumor. Because the particles travel only a very short distance, the radiation can be concentrated on the cancer while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy brain tissue.

During the procedure at Hadassah, doctors first took a sample to confirm active disease before precisely inserting the radiation sources into the center of the tumor using the hospital’s neurosurgical navigation systems.

In what the medical team said was a world first, the radiation sources were inserted into the tumor simultaneously through two different trajectories.

Researchers are also examining whether the treatment can stimulate an immune response against cancer cells elsewhere in the brain.

Uzi Sofer, CEO of Israeli company Alpha Tau, which developed the technology, described the procedure as a significant milestone.

A separate U.S. study known as REGAIN is also examining the treatment. Interim findings reportedly showed complete local control in the treated area among three patients, with two showing no remaining signs of the tumor on MRI scans.

Researchers cautioned that the findings remain preliminary and that the initial phase is focused on evaluating the treatment’s safety and feasibility.

The Hadassah team is already preparing to expand the clinical program to include patients with localized brain metastases.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)