Full Breakdown
First Alpha DaRT Treatment Administered to Recurrent Glioblastoma Patient in Jerusalem
8/19/2026, 7:58:19 AM
First Alpha DaRT Treatment for Recurrent Glioblastoma in Israel
Hadassah-University Medical Center’s Ein Kerem campus performed the world’s first clinical use of Alpha DaRT (Diffusing Alpha-Radiation Therapy) on a 77-year-old man with recurrent glioblastoma. The patient had previously undergone surgery, conventional radiation, and chemotherapy. During the procedure, alpha-emitting sources were injected into the tumor from two separate pathways, providing concentrated radiation to the lesion while sparing surrounding brain tissue. The case was announced earlier this month as a feasibility and safety study; expansion to efficacy testing will follow only after this initial phase is completed.
Background and Clinical Need
Glioblastoma is an aggressive primary brain tumor with a high recurrence rate after standard therapies. Options for patients whose disease returns are extremely limited, prompting investigation of novel modalities such as targeted alpha radiation. Preclinical work on Alpha DaRT suggests not only localized tumor control but also a potential systemic immune response against tumor cells in other brain regions.
Key Figures and Collaborative Teams
- Professor Yigal Shoshan – Director of the Neurosurgery, Oncology, and Stereotactic Radiosurgery Unit at Hadassah-University Medical Center, lead surgeon of the Alpha DaRT case.
- Sharett Institute of Oncology – co-developer of the Alpha DaRT platform.
- ALPHA Tau – partner organization in the technology’s development.
Official Statements & Responses
Professor Shoshan emphasized that Alpha DaRT integrates seamlessly with the neurosurgical navigation systems routinely used at the hospital, facilitating precise delivery. He noted the significance of an Israeli-origin innovation being applied to Israeli patients, describing the achievement as both a scientific milestone and a “Zionist mission.” The multidisciplinary team, which included specialists from the Department of Neurosurgery, the Institute of Radiotherapy, and the Neuropathology Unit, framed the study as a necessary step toward expanding treatment options for patients who have exhausted conventional therapies.
Verbatim Quotes
- “One of the great advantages of the technology is that it integrates naturally with the neurosurgical navigation systems we use every day,” — Shoshan. For
