India Launches First-Ever Real-Time Tumour Tracking System By CIOTechOutlook Team

India Launches First-Ever Real-Time Tumour Tracking System

CIOTechOutlook Team | Tuesday, 06 May 2025, 04:22 IST

India received a first-of-its-kind advanced cancer treatment system that tracks cancer tumour in real time.

Known as Elekta Unity MR Linac, the machine combines real-time Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) with accurate radiation therapy. In simple terms, this system combines two important features: an MRI scanner (which shows clear pictures of the inside of the body) and a radiation machine (which targets and kills cancer cells).

The machine, currently installed at Yashoda Medicity in Ghaziabad, is also the country's first to include Comprehensive Motion Management (CMM), a feature that improves accuracy by tracking even the slightest body movement during treatment. It tracks tiny movements in the body while treating cancer. That means if a patient moves or breathes, the machine adjusts in real time, so the radiation still hits exactly the right spot.

This allows doctors to adapt radiation doses on a daily basis, based on changes in a patient's anatomy. The result is better targeting of cancer cells while protecting nearby organs. Because it uses MRI instead of regular CT scans, it gives much clearer images, especially of soft tissues like organs.

Doctors can change the treatment plan every day based on how the patient’s body is responding. The Elekta Unity system uses a high-resolution 1.5 Tesla MRI scanner to provide clear, real-time images of tumours and surrounding healthy tissues.

It is especially useful for treating small tumours, lymph nodes, and cases where patients need to undergo radiation more than once. The machine also supports hypo-fractionated treatment, delivering higher doses in fewer sessions, making the process quicker and more comfortable for patients. The new system also enables remote treatment planning. Doctors can review and approve patient plans from anywhere, improving speed and flexibility.

It also sets the stage for future approaches like Biology-Guided Radiotherapy (BgRT), which aims to personalise treatment based on biological signals such as gene expression.

Once operational, the Elekta Unity MR Linac is expected to set a new benchmark for cancer care in India.