Samsung Medical Center is teaming up with an Israeli biotechnology firm to develop a new treatment for pancreatic cancer, one of the hardest cancers to treat. The plan is to use technology that emits radiation from inside a tumor to attack cancer cells, widening treatment options for patients who previously could not undergo surgery.
The hospital said on the 23rd that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Alpha Tau Medical, an Israeli developer of tumor treatment technology, to conduct research on pancreatic cancer therapy. The two sides plan to jointly review the clinical potential of Alpha DaRT, a radiation therapy technology developed by Alpha Tau.
Unlike conventional radiation therapy, Alpha DaRT releases radiation from within the tumor. Standard external radiation therapy delivers radiation from outside the body, which can also affect healthy tissue. Precision techniques such as proton and carbon-ion therapy have been developed to reduce that effect. Alpha DaRT goes a step further by inserting a radiation-delivery device directly into the tumor.
Alpha particles, released as the radioactive elements in the device decay, travel only a very short distance. The goal is to use that property to selectively destroy cancer cells while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. In the United States, a pilot trial is under way in patients with inoperable pancreatic cancer, combining the therapy with existing chemotherapy. Alpha Tau completed enrollment of 48 patients as of August this year and plans to pursue follow-up research based on the early clinical results.
Pancreatic cancer is the fourth-leading cause of cancer deaths in South Korea, with a five-year relative survival rate of just 17.0%. More than 40% of patients already have metastases to other organs at the time of diagnosis, and only about 20% undergo surgery. Because outcomes lag behind those of other cancers, securing new treatments is urgent.
Through the partnership, Samsung Medical Center and Alpha Tau will examine the potential for downstaging — shrinking a tumor or reducing how far it has spread so that more patients become eligible for surgery.
"I hope this agreement helps find new treatment options for pancreatic cancer patients," said Kim Hee-cheol, head of the Cancer Center at Samsung Medical Center. "We will carefully review the clinical applicability of the technology and strengthen our research capabilities."