Top 7 Recent Achievements of Israeli Scientists in Cancer Research and Diagnosis

In recent decades, Israeli scientists have been actively engaged in large-scale research in the field of cancer study and treatment – a disease that remains the leading cause of death in Israel and many other countries around the world. Local universities, medical centers, clinics, and laboratories are among the world leaders in developing innovative anti-tumour methods and conducting extensive clinical trials to expand knowledge about cancer, of which there are currently over a hundred types, and to advance understanding of its development mechanisms. Alongside them, revolutionary solutions for early detection and diagnosis are being offered by Israeli biotechnology startups.

Currently, hundreds of projects and studies are under development. We present to you seven recent achievements of Israeli scientists concerning the study of oncological diseases and methods to combat them.

Artificial Cells Against Cancer

Researchers from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology successfully destroyed a malignant tumour using an artificial cell capable of producing anti-cancer proteins within the tumour tissue. According to the scientists, it has properties similar to a regular living cell but possesses much more "remarkable" abilities.

After laboratory studies, the technology was tested on mouse models – as a result, the proteins synthesized by the artificial particles successfully destroyed cancer cells as soon as they reached the tumour area. "By encoding the model of integrated DNA, the artificial cells we developed can produce a variety of different proteins. They have a modular design, meaning they allow for the activation of the production of necessary proteins according to environmental conditions," explains one of the authors of the study. "The technology we developed could become an important component of personalized medicine, which involves creating an individual treatment program based on the genetic and medical profile of a specific patient."

Gold and Light to Ensure Targeted Delivery of Anti-Cancer Drugs

Scientists from the same Technion announced earlier this year that they developed a technology using light and gold particles that allows for the delivery of a drug directly to the tumour area, thereby increasing the effectiveness of therapy.

According to the scientists, the system uses special particles capable of specifically targeting affected tissues instead of dispersing throughout the body and causing harm. "The most vivid example is chemotherapy drugs that block the cell division process, leading to hair loss and digestive problems in cancer patients," the scientists stated.

The primary goal of the researchers was to find an effective treatment method for head and neck cancer, as these types of tumours are known for their resistance to traditional radiation therapy. About 40% of patients die even after intensive treatment. "From previous studies, we knew that gold can enhance the intensity of radiation absorption by the tumour. But if gold particles are introduced into the patient, they can spread throughout the body. So our task was to find a way to ensure that these particles settle only in the tumour tissues," says the lead author of the study, Professor Aaron Popovtser, a clinical oncology professor at the Tel Aviv University Medical Faculty.

The technology proposed by the scientists is a non-invasive method of drug delivery using a unique polymer coating containing gold nanoparticles. The drug is introduced into the bloodstream; however, the active substance begins to be released and activated only when the polymer coating dissolves under the influence of light rays from an external source due to the presence of gold particles. This achieves targeted action on the cancerous tumour without harming the surrounding healthy tissues.

Nanomedicine to Help Slow the Progression of Pancreatic Cancer

A group of scientists from Tel Aviv University announced that they completed an experiment, the results of which, they say, could serve as a basis for creating an effective drug for treating pancreatic cancer and other deadly types of oncology. The authors of the study were able to accurately determine the inverse relationship between an oncogene – a gene that provokes cancer development – and the synthesis of microRNA capable of halting the growth of malignant cells, identifying it as one of the reasons for the prolonged survival of people with pancreatic tumours.

As noted by one of the authors of the study, despite all the treatment methods offered by modern medicine today, almost 75% of patients with pancreatic cancer die within a year of diagnosis, with most dying in the first few months. However, about 7% of people with this diagnosis live more than five years – it is their cases that the scientists decided to study. "We thought that if we understand how people live several years with such a dangerous and aggressive disease, we could develop a new therapeutic strategy," says the lead author of the experiment.

As a result, the scientists managed to create a new nanoparticle that delivers genetic material precisely to the location of the tumour and prevents the appearance of side effects for surrounding tissues. They compared it to "a taxi that carries important passengers."

"Many oncology protocols involve the use of several drugs at once; however, usually, the medications do not reach the tumour simultaneously. Our 'taxi' safely delivers important passengers directly to the cancerous tissues. Once it 'parks' in the right place, it breaks down under the action of an enzyme present in the pancreatic tumour, releasing the drug," the researchers explain.

Israeli Technology to Improve Cancer Diagnosis

Last month, the Israeli startup Nucleai, which is developing an artificial intelligence-based system to help specialists make cancer diagnosis faster and more efficient, raised five million dollars for initial funding. It consists of a series of computer algorithms that can detect invisible pathological changes in tissue and cell samples taken during biopsies. According to the researchers, this will significantly reduce the likelihood of diagnostic errors and, consequently, save thousands of lives.

New Non-Invasive Method for Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

This spring, an Israeli company presented its new development – a technology for non-invasive diagnosis of prostate cancer, the second most common type of oncology among men. Named CellDetect, the technology was tested at Kaplan Medical Center: it showed a high degree of effectiveness in detecting cancer cells in urine samples – with sensitivity and specificity rates of 91.3% and 75%, respectively.

As part of the clinical study, specialists used the new technology, which is an innovative cytopathological test, to examine urine samples from 59 men, 28 of whom were diagnosed with "prostate cancer" (previously confirmed by biopsy), while the other 31 were healthy. CellDetect distinguished normal cells from cancerous ones by color and morphological structure. The reliability of the new technology was over 80%.

"The results of our experiment demonstrate the advantages of the new technology as a reliable and highly accurate diagnostic tool, which, among other things, will help the treating physician determine whether the patient needs to be sent for a biopsy or if this invasive procedure can be avoided," says the lead researcher of the project, Professor Dan Leibovitz, head of the urology department at Kaplan Clinic.

New Blood Tests for Breast Cancer Diagnosis Being Tested in Israel

An Israeli company developing laboratory diagnostic methods for various oncological diseases conducted the first blind clinical study of a blood test for the early detection of breast cancer. The new test, named TM-B1, will be tested on two hundred patients. It is based on biochemical infrared spectroscopy technology (TBIA). Previous clinical studies showed that TBIA can detect malignant breast tumours with a sensitivity of 93% and specificity of 87%.

Israeli Social Network for Colorectal Cancer Patients

The Israeli social network for cancer patients and their caregivers, Belong, recently announced a partnership with the Canadian organization Colorectal Cancer Canada (CCC), aimed at improving the quality of life for patients with colorectal cancer and their families by expanding access to high-quality information, digital services, and community support.

The creators of the social network developed a free application based on it with elements of artificial intelligence, which offers people with oncological diseases and their loved ones an updated platform and a unique, personalized tool for more effective cancer fighting.

"The new application, combined with advanced technologies, allows cancer patients to receive all the information they need within one platform. It enables them to manage their treatment process, wherever they are, providing access to all required resources," says CCC Executive Director Barry Stein. "This service contains simple and the most relevant information; we believe it will help people save time and money and will also be useful in making treatment decisions."