Inova Schar Cancer announced last week the launch of Adaptive Online Radiotherapy, a significant technological advancement in cancer treatment that allows doctors to adjust a patient’s radiation plan in real time. Inova is the first medical provider in the Greater Washington, D.C., region to implement this leading-edge technology.
The system, known as Varian Ethos with Hypersight, is one of the most advanced forms of personalized radiation therapy available. It features the fastest on-table imaging in the field and uses artificial intelligence to tailor radiation doses to changes in a patient’s anatomy during each treatment session.
“This is an exciting new development in cancer care,” said Dr. Ashish Chawla, Mather Chair and Division Chief of Radiation Oncology at Inova Schar Cancer. “As you go through treatment, your anatomy can change — tumors can shrink, and organs can shift. With Adaptive Online Radiotherapy, we can identify these changes in real time and adjust treatment within minutes, ensuring we are targeting the tumor as precisely as possible while protecting healthy tissue.”
Traditional radiation therapy plans are typically adjusted between treatment sessions. In contrast, Adaptive Online Radiotherapy enables clinicians to analyze advanced cone beam CT (CBCT) images during each appointment and make instant treatment modifications. This shift enhances both accuracy and outcomes while reducing radiation exposure.
Inova’s rollout of this technology marks another milestone for the cancer center, which is also home to the Mather Proton Therapy Center, Northern Virginia’s only proton therapy facility. Earlier this year, Inova Schar became the first cancer program in the Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., area to introduce Hypersight technology for high-precision Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT).
The use of AI-powered adaptive radiotherapy is expected to benefit a wide range of patients. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 1.9 million new cancer cases are projected to be diagnosed in the United States in 2025, with radiation therapy used in roughly 60% of all cancer treatments.
By combining state-of-the-art imaging, real-time AI adaptation, and a focus on minimizing damage to healthy tissue, Adaptive Online Radiotherapy represents a leap forward in personalized oncology care.
“Inova is committed to staying at the forefront of cancer treatment,” Chawla added. “This technology gives our patients access to the most advanced care available — right here in Northern Virginia.”