Leo Cancer Care Delivers Largest-Ever Upright Radiotherapy Showcase at ESTRO 2026, Including European Debut of Grace™ and Next-Generation Proton Therapy Approach

From concept to reality: Ultra-compact proton therapy and upright radiotherapy move closer to clinical adoption in Europe. 

Leo Cancer Care will unveil its largest-ever upright radiotherapy showcase at ESTRO 2026, highlighting growing European momentum behind a new approach to cancer treatment. The showcase brings together upright patient positioning, ultra-compact proton therapy, and the European debut of Grace™, the company’s next-generation upright photon therapy system. 

The showcase represents a significant step forward in the company’s “concept to reality” journey – demonstrating how upright radiotherapy is transitioning from research and development into clinically viable solutions designed to expand access to advanced cancer care. 

Central to this approach is Marie®, Leo Cancer Care’s upright patient positioning and imaging solution, which enables treatment delivery by rotating the patient rather than a large machine. This fundamentally changes how radiotherapy systems can be designed, removing the need for large rotating gantries and enabling faster and more compact installations. 

As noted by investor, PR Yu:
“Systems like this used to cost over $100M and require an entire building. By rethinking the model, Leo Cancer Care can cut costs by more than half and shrink the footprint by 10x, dramatically expanding access.” 

This shift has the potential to remove two of the biggest barriers to advanced radiotherapy – cost and infrastructure – opening the door to wider global adoption. 

In parallel, the recent CE marking of the MEVION S250-FIT™ Proton Therapy System signals growing readiness for clinical deployment in Europe. When combined with upright positioning, this next-generation configuration supports a new category of ultra-compact proton therapy – capable of fitting within standard radiotherapy vaults and integrating into existing hospital infrastructure. 

Stephen Towe, CEO of Leo Cancer Care, said:
“ESTRO represents an important moment for us as we bring together years of innovation into a single, unified vision. By rotating the patient rather than a large machine, upright treatment opens the door to more compact and flexible proton therapy systems while also transforming the patient experience into something more natural and connected. 

This is about moving from innovative concept to clinical reality – demonstrating that ultra-compact proton therapy is not just possible, but practical. By enabling systems to fit within existing radiotherapy environments, we have the opportunity to significantly expand global access to advanced cancer treatment.” 

The approach is already being validated through early clinical collaborations, including integration with compact proton therapy systems in partnership with Mevion, at leading institutions such as Stanford Medicine, demonstrating the feasibility of delivering proton therapy without traditional gantry-based infrastructure.  

Find out more about the Mevion & Leo Cancer Care partnership on the ESTRO Stage – Add to calendar

Beyond infrastructure, upright radiotherapy is also being explored for its potential to improve patient experience and treatment delivery. Early studies suggest upright positioning may support more natural breathing, reduce internal organ motion, and improve patient comfort, while enabling more direct interaction between patients and their clinical teams. 

Leo Cancer Care will also mark the first European showcase of Grace™, its next-generation upright photon therapy system. Designed as a scalable, patient-centric platform, Grace™ combines upright positioning with integrated imaging and a simplified system architecture – expanding access to high-quality radiotherapy while enabling more adaptive, personalised treatment pathways. 

At ESTRO, Leo Cancer Care’s showcase will highlight: 

• Upright radiotherapy solutions in the most advanced configurations  

• The integration pathway with ultra-compact proton therapy systems and partners 

• The transition from research innovation to clinical readiness  

• The potential to expand access to advanced radiotherapy across Europe and globally 

• Future advancements in cancer care unlocked by upright positioning  

This milestone reflects Leo Cancer Care’s broader mission to transform radiotherapy delivery – making advanced treatment more accessible, more human, and more adaptable to existing healthcare systems.  

Be there for the debut of Grace in Europe on the Leo Cancer Care booth (C11:31) at ESTRO – Add to calendar

Please note

Leo Cancer Care’s Grace™ solution is currently under development and is not cleared or approved for sale. Leo Cancer Care’s Marie® solution is currently commercially available only in the United States, having received 510(k) clearance.

Please note that the MEVION S250-FIT™ system has received FDA 510(k) clearance and is CE-marked under Regulation (EU) 2017/745.