Leo Cancer Care has introduced a new upright photon therapy system, known as Grace, at the ASTRO 2025 Annual Meeting. The system is designed to deliver conventional X-ray radiation therapy with patients seated or standing, rather than lying down.

Grace marks Leo Cancer Care’s entry into upright photon therapy, building on its previous work in upright particle therapy. According to the company, upright positioning may allow for more stable organ placement and consistent patient alignment, with the added benefit of increased comfort. The system also includes a fan beam CT scanner at the treatment isocenter, which will support planning-quality imaging during treatment and could enable future implementation of online adaptive radiotherapy.

The system is named in honor of computer scientist and naval officer Grace Hopper, reflecting the company’s intent to challenge long-standing norms in radiation therapy.
“Our technology has always been bold, but we are pioneering with purpose and that purpose is to put the patient truly back at the center of their treatments,” said Stephen Towe, cofounder and CEO of Leo Cancer Care.

Grace will feature a fast multi-leaf collimator and operate using a fixed radiation beam, which the company says could reduce shielding requirements and lower infrastructure costs. It will also be integrated with RaySearch Laboratories' RayStation and RayCare platforms, supporting planning and workflow for upright treatments.

Initial systems will be installed at five sites worldwide as part of the Upright Photon Alliance, a research collaboration formed in 2024. Members include Centre Léon Bérard, Cone Health, IHH Healthcare, Mayo Clinic and OncoRay.

The company describes Grace as a cost-effective approach to expanding access to photon therapy without compromising on treatment quality.

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