Thursday Oct 9, 2025
HE
NEWSLETTER
www.israelhayom.com
  • Home
  • News
    • Israel
    • Israel at War
    • Middle East
    • United States
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
  • In Memoriam
www.israelhayom.com
  • Home
  • News
    • Israel
    • Israel at War
    • Middle East
    • United States
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
  • In Memoriam
www.israelhayom.com
Home Health & Wellness

TAU researchers print first-ever 3D model of deadly brain tumor

Breakthrough technology allows researchers to test drugs on sample taken from patient to determine which drug or combination of drugs will be most effective.

by  ILH Staff
Published on  08-20-2021 12:52
Last modified: 08-20-2021 12:56
TAU researchers print first-ever 3D model of deadly brain tumorYouTube

A team of researchers from Tel Aviv University have created the world's first fully functioning 3D model of a glioblastoma tumor | Photo: YouTube

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

A team of researchers from Tel Aviv University have created the world's first fully functioning 3D model of a glioblastoma tumor, which includes 3D-bioprinted cancer tissue and the surrounding tumor environment that affects its development.

Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter

The 3D-bioprinted tumor is made from a gel composition that resembles the brain and includes a system of blood tubes resembling blood vessels through which blood cells and drugs can flow, simulating the development of a real tumor and how it responds to treatments.

The team's findings were published recently in the journal Science Advances.

Glioblastoma is notoriously fatal as it accounts for the majority of brain tumors and is highly aggressive.

The average survival time of patients with glioblastoma is 14-15 months from diagnosis. Glioblastoma spreads quickly and unpredictably, making it particularly challenging to treat with existing therapies. New drugs could drive better patient outcomes, but development methods in laboratory settings are time consuming and cannot predict how individual patients will respond to treatment.

"Our innovation gives us unprecedented access to 3D tumors that better imitate the clinical scenario, enabling optimal investigation," said lead researcher Prof. Ronit Satchi-Fainaro of the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, the Sagol School of Neuroscience, and the Director of the Morris Kahn 3D-BioPrinting for Cancer Research Initiative at Tel Aviv University.

The research team from left: Eilam Yeini, Lena Neufeld and Prof. Satchi-Fainaro Tel Aviv University

"Cancer, like all tissues, behaves very differently in a petri dish or test tube than it does in the human body. Approximately 90% of all experimental drugs fail in clinical trials because the success achieved in the lab is not reproduced in patients," Satchi-Fainaro explained.

In practice, tissue from a patient's tumor is extracted in surgery and then the tem bio-prints a test tumor based on the patient's MRI. The team has approximately two weeks to test and evaluate the efficacy of different therapies.

According to Satchi-Fainaro, a sample from a patient's tumor and the surround tissue can allow the team to bioprint 100 tiny tumors on which drugs can be tested in different combinations to determine the optimal treatment for the patient.

"Alternately, we can test numerous compounds on a 3D-bioprinted tumor and decide which is most promising for further development and investment as a potential drug," she added.

Satchi-Fainaro addd that perhaps the most exciting aspect of her team's breakthrough was the ability to identify proteins and genes in cancer cells that could serve as new targets for drugs – a particularly difficult task when dealing with a tumor inside the brain of a living being.

In one example, researchers were able to use the new technology to successfully target a protein mechanism they had previously identified that causes the immune system to help glioblastoma spread, rather than attacking the cancer cells.

Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!

Tags: 3D printingchemotherapyradiation

Related Posts

COVID is back – with brain fogGetty Images/iStockphoto/SB Arts Media

COVID is back – with brain fog

by Erez Linn

Stratus follows the Nimbus strain, which demonstrates high infectiousness and "razor blade" sore throat symptoms.

Researchers discover Israeli coronavirus variant, but risk lowGetty Images / fotomay

Doctors shocked after coronavirus infects patient for 2 years

by Erez Linn

This extended infection differs significantly from long COVID cases: Instead of post-viral symptoms, this patient continued experiencing the active infectious...

Feeling sick? You might work out too muchGetty Images

Feeling sick? You might work out too much

by Adi Nirman

Physical activity has always been linked to a healthy body and strong immune system, so why do we tend to...

Menu

Analysis 

Archaeology

Blogpost

Business & Finance

Culture

Exclusive

Explainer

Environment

 

Features

Health

In Brief

Jewish World

Judea and Samaria

Lifestyle

Cyber & Internet

Sports

 

Diplomacy 

Iran & The Gulf

Gaza Strip

Politics

Shopping

Terms of use

Privacy Policy

Submissions

Contact Us

About Us

The first issue of Israel Hayom appeared on July 30, 2007. Israel Hayom was founded on the belief that the Israeli public deserves better, more balanced and more accurate journalism. Journalism that speaks, not shouts. Journalism of a different kind. And free of charge.

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il

  • Home
  • News
    • Israel at War
    • Israel
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
    • Environment & Wildlife
    • Health & Wellness
  • In Memoriam
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Submit your opinion
  • Terms and conditions

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il

Newsletter

[contact-form-7 id=”508379″ html_id=”isrh_form_Newsletter_en” title=”newsletter_subscribe”]

  • Home
  • News
    • Israel at War
    • Israel
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
    • Environment & Wildlife
    • Health & Wellness
  • In Memoriam
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Submit your opinion
  • Terms and conditions

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il