Elekta Showcases Adaptive Innovations at ASTRO 2025
Elekta Showcases Adaptive Innovations at ASTRO 2025
At the 67th annual meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) in San Francisco, CA, Elekta spotlighted a trio of innovations that underscore its commitment to adaptive radiotherapy: the Evo CT-Linac, the Unity MR-Linac, and the Elekta ONE Planning system. Kieran Anderson, Group Publisher of Applied Radiation Oncology, spoke with Elekta leaders Chris Gilpin, Joanne Corbett, and Paul Barry to learn how these technologies are reshaping cancer care.
Evo: A Versatile, AI-driven Linac
Standing in front of Evo,* Elekta’s newest linear accelerator, Chris Gilpin, Global Product Marketing Director for Linac Solutions, was eager to emphasize its transformative potential. “One of the key benefits of Evo is the image quality improvements,” he explained. “We’ve taken our cone-beam CT and brought in real enhancements with AI to reduce scatter in images and iterative reconstruction. What that gives us is better structural visibility and ultimately the confidence for clinicians to make better decisions—whether they’re doing offline treatments or standard image-guided therapies.”
Gilpin noted that Evo is already being installed in centers across Europe and Asia Pacific, with dozens of systems live and treating patients. The early feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, particularly regarding the clarity of imaging and the ability to adapt treatment more confidently. He described Evo as a “scalable platform” designed to evolve with the needs of clinics. “Especially in smaller centers that may only have one or two linacs, versatility is critical,” he said. “This system can handle everything—head and neck, stereotactic treatments in the brain or spine, even electron treatments. We wanted it to be super versatile, so no matter the case, clinicians can feel equipped.”
One distinctive element is Elekta’s approach to artificial intelligence. “We don’t use generative AI to create new data,” Gilpin stressed. “We use AI to clean up what’s already there, so we’re not generating false images. The benefit is clear: better quality, no extra imaging time, and no additional dose to the patient.”
Unity MR-Linac: The “Holy Grail” of Motion Management
While Evo is just beginning its clinical journey, the Unity MR-Linac has been in use since 2018 and continues to expand its global footprint. Joanne Corbett, Global Product Marketing Manager for Unity, described the system’s core value as its combination of high-quality MR imaging with precise radiation delivery. “The benefits come from the exquisite soft tissue visualization,” she said. “We can adapt the plan every day and really make sure we’re targeting the tumor while sparing surrounding organs.”
A highlight at this year’s ASTRO was Unity’s Comprehensive Motion Management (CMM). Corbett explained how it works: “If the target moves, whether due to breathing, digestion, or bladder filling, the beam can pause until everything is aligned again. One clinician described it as the holy grail of radiation oncology—being able to see your target continuously while you’re treating.”
Unity’s patient-centric innovations also stood out. A new visual guidance system not only aids respiratory coaching but also helps reduce anxiety during treatment. “Patients can see calming themes or even watch their breathing pattern in real time,” Corbett said. “It makes the experience less intimidating and more interactive.”
She also pointed to Unity’s research contributions, including the use of daily MR imaging to understand biological tumor response. “For the first time, we’re seeing how a target responds throughout treatment, not just before and after,” she said. “It opens the door to new ways of prescribing radiation—maybe fewer fractions, maybe more personalized schedules. Unity is teaching us what’s possible.”
Elekta ONE Planning: Speed and Adaptability
The third piece of Elekta’s adaptive ecosystem is its planning software, Elekta ONE Planning. Paul Barry, Director of Technical Clinical Sales, positioned it as the bridge between imaging, adaptation, and treatment delivery. “Adaptive therapy is really the next level of personalization,” he said. “But to make it work, you need planning tools that are incredibly fast and intuitive. That’s where Elekta ONE Planning comes in.”
Barry explained that planning bottlenecks historically occurred in contouring and optimization. “We rebuilt our optimization engine onto the GPU, cutting calculation times from minutes to seconds,” he said. “Customers have been shocked by the speed. They’ll say, ‘Wait, it’s done already?’ It’s a game-changer because it removes barriers to adopting adaptive workflows.”
He also emphasized usability. “Adaptive therapy is a team game. The more we can make tasks simpler and more automated, the easier it becomes for physicians, physicists, and dosimetrists to collaborate. Ultimately, that’s what improves patient care.”
A Unified Vision for Adaptive Care
Taken together, Evo, Unity, and Elekta ONE Planning demonstrate Elekta’s unified strategy: give clinics versatile tools that enable adaptive radiotherapy at their own pace. As Gilpin put it, “We want to let clinics adopt adaptive radiotherapy in the way that works for them—whether it’s occasional offline adjustments or fully online adaptive treatments.”
Corbett highlighted the patient impact: “The more Unity systems we place, the more patients benefit from personalized, precise treatments. That’s the ultimate goal.”
Barry agreed, noting that speed and simplicity are not just engineering goals but clinical necessities. “Our responsibility is to make these tools easy and fast, so clinicians can focus on what matters—making the best decisions for patients.”
At ASTRO 2025, Elekta’s message was clear: the adaptive future is no longer theoretical. With Evo entering the market, Unity gaining clinical maturity, and Elekta ONE Planning streamlining workflows, the company is staking a bold claim to lead that future.
*Elekta Evo has CE mark and is pending U.S. FDA 510(k) clearance.