Enabling next-generation SFRT research in small tumors through Bragg Lens technology
Convergent Bragg Lens technology provides the precision needed and uniquely extends Spatially Fractionated Radiation Therapy (SFRT) for smaller tumor sizes, opening new research, commercial, and clinical pathways.
Ron Gabianelli
Academic Tumor
Biology Research
Small Animal Models
Pharmaceutical Research
Immunotherapy and Drug Development
Veterinary Oncology
Companion Animal Treatment
SFRT delivers radiation in a controlled, non-uniform pattern, creating high-dose peaks separated by low-dose valleys within the tumor volume. This spatial modulation helps preserve vascular function, limit immune cell depletion, and maintain tumor control.
SFRT has been used clinically for large, treatment-resistant tumors. Ongoing research at MD Anderson Cancer Center is now focused on extending SFRT to smaller tumors using the Convergent MiniBeam, enabling systematic study of tumor biology, immune response, and dose–volume relationships at millimeter scales in a laboratory setting.
Image 1
The Convergent Bragg Lens creates the Convergent MiniBeam, which is a focused skin sparing X-ray beam, at depth similar to the Bragg Peak of a proton beam at a fraction of cost in terms of room shielding and equipment cost.
Convergent MiniBeam can speed research in small animals with SFRT and eventually when combined with existing modalities can boost dose to small targets, re-treat patients if appropriate and ultimately when combined with immunotherapy compounds enable the human body to heal itself.
Image 1:
Adapted from Figure 1c from Role of Spatially Fractionated Radiotherapy (LATTICE) Treatment in Inoperable Bulky Soft-Tissue Sarcomas, published in Cancers 2025, 17, 624 https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17040624 By Majercakova, K.; Aguilar, N.T.; Isern Verdum, J.; Bargalló, H.V.; et al. Copyright: © 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Used under CC BY 4.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The reuse of the figure does not imply endorsement by the authors or publisher.