Read our latest blog: LinkLight™ Protein-Protein Interaction AssaysLearn More
Focused tumor irradiation and whole-body radiation platforms for clinically relevant preclinical oncology research. Available from our Freiburg, Germany and Hershey, PA, USA campuses.
Radiation therapy is administered to approximately half of all cancer patients, making it one of the most common treatment modalities in clinical oncology. As novel therapeutics increasingly enter the clinic as combination regimens with radiation, preclinical data demonstrating drug-radiation interactions has become critical for informing clinical trial design. Conventional cabinet irradiators are typically limited in their ability to deliver clinically relevant, image-guided focal irradiation, as they are primarily used for whole-body or large-field exposure. As a result, they do not fully replicate the conformal and targeted dosing strategies used in patients. Advanced preclinical irradiation platforms, such as image-guided systems, enable both tumor-targeted and whole-body irradiation, allowing study designs that more closely reflect clinical practice and facilitate the generation of translatable efficacy data.
Reaction Biology provides both focused, tumor-specific irradiation and conventional whole-body irradiation, enabling study designs that mirror clinical practice and generate translatable efficacy data for IND-enabling packages.
| XenX by Xstrahl (Freiburg) | X-RAD 320iX (Hershey) | |
|---|---|---|
| Irradiation type | Focused, tumor-specific, whole-body irradiation possible | Whole-body and shielding-based localized irradiation |
| X-ray source | 225 kVp, rotational gantry | Fixed-source cabinet |
| Targeting | Portal imaging–guided irradiation using a collimated X‑ray beam | Full-field exposure and shielding-based localized irradiation |
| Dose distribution | 3D conformal to target volume | Uniform whole-body and shielding-based localized irradiation |
| Primary applications | Radiation-drug combinations, radiosensitizer screening, abscopal effect studies, focal tumor RT, bone marrow ablation, immune reconstitution | Bone marrow ablation, immune reconstitution, total body conditioning, whole-body dose-response and shielding-based localized irradiation |
| Model compatibility | All standard mouse models with a focus on subcutaneous/subQperior and orthotopic (mainly glioblastoma and lung) xenograft and syngeneic models | All standard mouse models |
| Facility certification | ISO 9001, GV-SOLAS | AAALACi accredited |
Evaluate whether a novel therapeutic enhances or modulates radiation response using clinically relevant fractionated dosing schedules. Our irradiators enable tumor-specific irradiation that can be combined with small molecules, biologics, or immunotherapies without the confounding systemic toxicity of whole-body exposure. Applicable to both xenograft and syngeneic models.
Screen compounds that increase tumor sensitivity to radiation with precise, reproducible dose delivery to the tumor bed. Focused irradiation isolates the radiosensitizing effect from systemic toxicity, enabling clearer interpretation of dose–response relationships for lead optimization. Supports single-agent and combination study designs.
Investigate immune-mediated regression of untreated distal tumors following focal irradiation of a primary lesion. Bilateral implantation models in syngeneic backgrounds allow assessment of whether radiation combined with checkpoint inhibitors or other immunomodulators can elicit systemic anti-tumor immune responses beyond the irradiated field.
Radiation can induce immunogenic cell death, releasing tumor-associated antigens that prime anti-tumor immunity. Combining focal irradiation with checkpoint inhibitors or other immunotherapies in syngeneic or humanized models enables evaluation of whether radiation converts immunologically “cold” tumors into more inflamed “hot” phenotypes. Pair with our flow cytometry and multiplex cytokine readouts for full immune characterization.
Profile clonogenic survival and dose-response relationships across tumor cell panels. The XenX rotating gantry enables irradiation of both adherent cells and cell suspensions, providing improved dose uniformity compared to fixed-source systems. This approach helps reduce beam attenuation and dose heterogeneity commonly observed in cabinet irradiators, enabling more consistent and reproducible in vitro radiobiology data.
Condition immunodeficient mice for bone marrow transplant or humanized immune system reconstitution studies. Whole-body irradiation supports standard myeloablative conditioning protocols across NSG, SCID, and other immunocompromised mouse strains.
Two complementary X-ray irradiation systems across two continents. The Xstrahl XenX in Freiburg delivers high-precision, small-field conformal irradiation via a 360-degree rotational gantry (225 kVp). The Precision X-Ray X-RAD 320iX in Hershey provides high-throughput, high-penetration whole-field irradiation via a fixed top-down beam (232 kVp). Together, they cover the full spectrum of preclinical radiation study designs from a single CRO partner.
The XenX portal imaging camera enables visual confirmation of tumor position and beam alignment before irradiation, supporting collimated delivery to both subcutaneous and orthotopic tumors. The X-RAD 320iX delivers uniform top-down exposure across the full irradiation field, providing consistent dosimetry for high-throughput conditioning and whole-body protocols where speed and penetration depth are the priority.
The XenX rotational gantry delivers 3D conformal dose distributions from any angle, concentrating radiation at the tumor while minimizing normal tissue exposure. The X-RAD 320iX maximizes beam penetration at 232 kVp for deep, uniform dose delivery across all tissue depths. Both platforms support single-dose, fractionated, and hypofractionated schedules tailored to your study objectives.
Irradiation studies on either platform are fully integrated with Reaction Biology’s in vivo pharmacology services. Combine radiation arms with MTD determination, PK/PD sampling, tumor growth inhibition measurement, immunophenotyping by flow cytometry (27-marker spectral analyzer panel), multiplex cytokine quantification (MSD or Luminex), and IHC/TMA histopathology within a single coordinated study design.
We operate two complementary X-ray irradiation systems. The Xstrahl XenX in Freiburg, Germany provides high-precision, small-field conformal irradiation using a 360-degree rotational gantry at 225 kVp. The Precision X-Ray X-RAD 320iX in Hershey, PA provides high-throughput, fixed-beam irradiation at 232 kVp with maximum tissue penetration. Your project manager can recommend the platform that best fits your study design.
The XenX supports subcutaneous, SubQperior, and orthotopic (primarily glioblastoma and lung) xenograft and syngeneic models using collimated, image-guided beam delivery. The X-RAD 320iX supports all standard mouse models and strains for whole-body and whole-field irradiation protocols.
Focused irradiation delivers a collimated beam to the tumor target while minimizing dose to surrounding normal tissue. It is preferred for radiation-drug combination efficacy studies, radiosensitizer screening, and abscopal effect investigations where isolating the radiation effect at the tumor is important. Whole-body irradiation delivers uniform dose across the entire animal and is used for bone marrow ablation, immune reconstitution conditioning, and studies requiring maximum throughput or penetration depth.
Yes. Focused irradiation in syngeneic models with intact immune systems is one of the primary applications for the XenX. You can combine radiation arms with checkpoint inhibitors, bispecific antibodies, or other immunomodulators and add immunophenotyping readouts (flow cytometry, multiplex cytokine, IHC) to characterize the immune response. Whole-body irradiation on the X-RAD 320iX is also used for conditioning prior to humanized model engraftment, which supports downstream immunotherapy evaluation.
Radiation can enhance drug efficacy through radiosensitization, increase tumor antigen release, and stimulate immune activation. Combination approaches aim to improve tumor control, response rates, and the durability of response. Both focused and whole-body platforms support combination study designs depending on the mechanism under investigation.
Fractionation refers to delivering radiation in multiple smaller doses over time rather than a single high dose. This approach improves normal tissue tolerance, allows cellular repair between doses, and better reflects clinical treatment regimens. Both the XenX and the X-RAD 320iX support single-dose, fractionated, and hypofractionated schedules.
The abscopal effect describes the regression of non-irradiated tumors due to systemic immune activation triggered by localized radiation. It is relatively rare with radiation alone but is observed more frequently when combined with immunotherapy. Abscopal effect studies typically use the XenX for focal irradiation of a primary tumor in bilateral syngeneic models.
Yes, in some settings. Radiation can increase immune infiltration, upregulate checkpoint molecules, and enhance antigen presentation, but these effects are context-dependent and not universally observed. Study design, including choice of model, fractionation schedule, and timing of immunotherapy dosing relative to irradiation, plays a significant role in whether synergy is achieved.
Evaluate immunotherapy efficacy and immune modulation in immunocompetent hosts with validated syngeneic tumor panels.
Test human-targeted immunotherapies in PBMC-engrafted or CD34+ humanized mice with longitudinal tumor monitoring.
Profile tumor-infiltrating immune populations with high-parameter spectral analysis across syngeneic and humanized mouse models.
Establish safe dose ranges for radiation-drug combinations before advancing into multi-arm efficacy studies.
Whether you are evaluating a radiosensitizer, testing an IO-radiation combination, or conditioning mice for engraftment, our in vivo team can scope your study from protocol design through final reporting.
