Bengaluru, August 5: HealthCare Global Enterprises (HCG) has commenced patient treatment using Karnataka’s first Elekta Unity MR-Linac, marking a significant advancement in precision cancer care. The technology introduces MR-guided adaptive radiation therapy to the state, offering patients in Karnataka and neighbouring regions access to one of the most advanced forms of radiation treatment available today.
The Elekta Unity MR-Linac integrates a high-resolution 1.5 Tesla MRI scanner with a linear accelerator, enabling clinicians to monitor the tumour and surrounding organs in real time during every treatment session. This allows doctors to modify the radiation plan based on changes in the patient’s anatomy, ensuring highly accurate tumour targeting while minimising radiation exposure to healthy tissues.
The launch comes at a time when cancer cases are rising steadily across India. According to estimates by the Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN), the country is expected to record nearly 2.08 million new cancer cases by 2040, representing a 57.5 per cent increase over 2020 figures. Experts say such trends underscore the need for more personalised and adaptive treatment technologies.
Dr. B.S. Ajaikumar, Founder and Chairman of HealthCare Global Enterprises Ltd., said the introduction of the MR-Linac represents another milestone in HCG’s commitment to precision medicine. He noted that adaptive radiation therapy enables doctors to focus radiation more accurately on the tumour while significantly reducing or even eliminating unnecessary exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. This, he said, has the potential to improve treatment outcomes while reducing side effects, reinforcing HCG’s mission of bringing world-class cancer care to patients in India.
Dr. Manish Mattoo, Executive Director and CEO of HCG, said the technology is transforming the way radiation therapy is delivered. By combining real-time imaging with adaptive treatment planning, clinicians can offer more personalised care with greater precision. He added that the technology, together with HCG’s multidisciplinary approach, is expected to improve clinical outcomes and expand access to advanced cancer treatment across Karnataka and neighbouring states.
The milestone also reflects the continuing collaboration between HCG and Elekta to strengthen access to advanced radiation oncology in India.
Feras Al Hasan, Head of TIMEA at Elekta, said the company is pleased to welcome HCG into its global network of Unity MR-Linac users. He said the system enables clinicians to maintain treatment accuracy even when tumours shift during therapy, ensuring optimal radiation delivery while protecting healthy tissues. He added that Elekta will continue working with HCG through specialised training programmes and workshops to accelerate the adoption of adaptive radiotherapy across the country.
Dr. John P. Christodouleas, Head of Medical Affairs and Partner Research at Elekta, said HCG’s adoption of MR-guided online adaptive radiation therapy reflects its leadership in precision oncology. He noted that the technology allows clinicians to adapt treatment plans based on the patient’s anatomy on the day of treatment, helping redefine modern radiation therapy.
For patients, MR-guided adaptive radiation therapy offers a more personalised treatment experience. Each session is tailored to the patient’s anatomy on that particular day, improving treatment accuracy while reducing radiation exposure to nearby healthy organs. The approach is especially beneficial for cancers located close to critical organs or in areas where internal anatomy changes during the course of treatment.
With HCG now offering Karnataka’s first Elekta Unity MR-Linac, the adoption of MR-guided adaptive radiation therapy in India continues to gather momentum. Experts believe such technologies will play an increasingly important role in improving treatment precision, enhancing patient outcomes, and making advanced cancer care more widely accessible.
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