UC Davis Debuts Cancer Treatment That Adapts in Real Time

Cancer treatment just got smarter in Sacramento, where a new radiation system can adapt to each patient's changing body during therapy.

UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center launched its Radixact System this week, becoming the first facility in the region to offer this advanced radiation technology. The system delivers treatment in a continuous 360-degree pattern while using CT imaging to guide every session.

What makes this different from older radiation therapy is its ability to respond in real time. If a tumor shrinks and changes a patient's anatomy during treatment, the built-in imaging lets doctors adjust the radiation beam immediately. This means patients get precisely targeted care throughout their entire therapy, not just at the beginning.

The technology shapes radiation beams to match each tumor's unique characteristics with remarkable accuracy. This precision reduces the risk of damaging healthy tissue nearby, which can mean fewer side effects for patients.

The system treats a wide range of cancers, including those in the brain, head and neck, lung, prostate, and female reproductive areas. Treatments are often completed faster than with older technology.

"This new technology is engineered to improve accuracy, reduce side effects and make treatments more efficient, often in less time," said Andrew Harrell, the cancer center's radiation oncology manager. The system includes real-time motion tracking and sophisticated beam-shaping tools that work together to deliver personalized care.

The Ripple Effect

The arrival of Radixact extends cutting-edge cancer care to a region that desperately needs it. UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center serves more than 6 million people across the Central Valley and inland Northern California as the area's only National Cancer Institute-designated center.

The facility treats more than 100,000 adults and children each year. With this new system, thousands of future patients will benefit from treatment that's more precise, more personalized, and potentially more comfortable than ever before.

The cancer center completed renovations to its radiation oncology treatment suite to accommodate the new system. Construction began in May 2025, and the facility is now scheduling patients for treatment.

Patients across Northern California now have access to the same advanced technology found at the nation's leading cancer centers, closer to home.