Expert of Fuda Cancer Hospital Being Invited as Guest at Russian Conference on Cancer Treatment

                  Dr Mu Feng (L1) was invited asguest at the conference.

From October 7 to 8 in 2016, the Second Russian Seminar on Cancer Treatment and New Technology was held at Russian State Surgery Research Institute solemnly. Experts and scholars for China, Sweden, Britain, Austria, Italy, Hungary, etc. gathered at Moscow to attend this event.

This event was held by Russian State Surgery Research Institute. Vice president of Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital Dr Mu Feng was invited to be a guest and deliver a speech on “Experience of 8000 Cases Cryosurgery for Cancer”.

Dr Mu Feng delivered a special report on “Experience of 8000 Cases Cryosurgery for Cancer” at the seminar. 

The experts had an in-depth and heated discussion on related topics about cryosurgery in the seminar. Italian expert C. Pusceddu and Russian experts introduced their research and experience in the field of cryosurgery for renal cancer, soft tissue sarcoma, etc. And Russian expert showed needle-type cryoprobe with liquid nitrogen that they recently invented.

Foreign experts quoted experience and pictures of FUDA in their reports many times.

Dr Mu Feng and president of Russian Society of Cryosurgery Alexander Zhao (Left)

Experts attending the event had a discussion.

Vice president Mu Feng pointed out that resection, chemotherapy and radiation therapy consisted of conventional treatments. With the development of imaging technique, prevailing intervention oncology is a great progress in fighting cancer. Interventional therapy has become the fourth main treatment besides surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. For example, like modern cryosurgery that represented the freezing technique with argon and helium emerging in the late period of last century, it brought hope to the cancer patients who couldn’t have surgery.    

As a treatment, cryosurgery has been approved and applied in clinical cancer treatment widely in the world. Clinical research showed that cryosurgery has irreplaceable function compared with other treatments. Especially it could perform percutaneous treatment which guided by imaging. And it security to great vessel also makes it have extensive application. 

Cryosurgery not only brings benefit to terminal patients who couldn’t accept surgery, in treating early stage cancer, it also achieves the same effect of surgery, like liver cancer, renal cancer, prostate cancer and lung cancer. As for unresectable tumor, like surgery, cryosurgery can eliminate most of it.

Cryosurgery technique of China has a leading position in the world. There are about 20 thousand cases of cryosurgery in our country. Just a Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital, the number of the cryosurgery cases for cancer is more than 10 thousand person-times, which ranking the first place in the world. So they accumulate abundant experience of cryosurgery for cancer.

Fuda Cancer Hospital firstly applied cryosurgery in central lung cancer, local progressive pancreatic cancer and giant liver cancer. It has been a world-renowned characteristic and attracted patients from five continents of the world. In treating pancreatic cancer, FUDA leads the world. In American medical retrieval system, one third of literatures of cryosurgery for pancreatic cancer are from Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital.

As one of the units firstly introduced cryosurgery technique in China, Fuda Cancer Hospital successively received Special Contribution Award in International Cryosurgery by International Society of Cryosurgery, Excellent Contribution Award at International Conference on Interventional Oncology, Excellent Contribution Award at Symposium on Mini-invasively Cancer Treatment of China, etc.

It’s said that the Third Asian Conference on Cryosurgery would be held at Beijing on November 4. Experts of Fuda Cancer Hospital will introduce their research outcome and clinical experience at the conference.

Thanks for your company in the way of fighting cancer

In the morning of September 25, Guangdong Provincial Light of Life Society of Cancer Rehabilitation held an award ceremony named “Thanks for Your Company” for celebrating the 24th anniversary of society’s establishment on Shiyigong Rongquan Theatre at Guangzhou.

The anniversary ceremony was co-organized by Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital and other medical enterprises. Former secretary general of Red Cross Society of Guangdong Province Yang Rong’en, Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital general manager Liu Jianguo participated in the ceremony and delivered speeches. Society awarded “5-year Anti-cancer Hero” to 238 members, “10-year Anti-cancer Hero” to 101 members and “15-year Anti-cancer Hero” to 50 members. Among them, there are 52 men who have fought against cancer for over 26 years.

Guangdong Provincial Light of Life Society of Cancer Rehabilitation has developed for 24 years. There are about 5 thousand members in the society now. The survival rate of members is more than 80%. Their members come from all parts of Guangdong, from all walks of life. In the way of fighting cancer, they never stop moving forward and prove that cancer is not equal with death with actions.

As Light of Life Society of Cancer Rehabilitation’s partner, Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital has provided services like treatments, rehabilitation and experts’ consultation for cancer patients of the society. Chief president of Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital and honorary chairman of Light of Life Society of Cancer Rehabilitaion Prof. Xu Kecheng especially sent his best blessings to the society.

General manager of Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital Liu Jianguo gave speech on stage.

Three points of Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital’s general manager Liu Jianguo’s feelings of Light of Life Society of Cancer Rehabilitation were expressed in his speech:

“The first feeling is moving. Light of Life (abbreviation of Light of Life Society of Cancer Rehabilitation) is a respectable non-profit organization with a large number of warm-hearted people who devote their time and energy to offering courage of beating cancer for cancer patients, which makes me moving.

The second is thanking. Light of Life Society has been established for 24 years. Thanks to the support and helps of government and all circles of the community, society can go further.

The third is gratitude. I’d like to express my gratitude to members of Light of Life Society’s trusts to staff of Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital. FUDA will guard society members’ health as always.

On “Thanks for Your Company” award ceremony, all programs were performed by members of the society in person. Their wonderful performance won warm applauses from audiences. 

A performer of new members was diagnosed as nasopharyngeal cancer. Just after having chemotherapy, he made up his mind to go to the stage and perform Meeting in the Yurt. He loves singing, and his sonorous singing won applauses from all members. 

According to Aunt Zeng’s introduction, after learning that he has nasopharyngeal cancer, he often felt afraid and confused. Members of Light of Life Society of Cancer Rehabilitation talked to him actively and encouraged him to face up to cancer toughly with their own stories of fighting cancer. And they let him join the society and feel care and warm so that he could get the confidence of fighting cancer again.

Guangdong Provincial Light of Life Society of Cancer Rehabilitation Chairman Ms. Guo Lianyou expressed her vision of society’s development and said that the progress of Light of Life Society couldn’t be made without hard work and unselfish contribution of members. 

A lot of member who are having chemotherapy recently registered for this event actively when they heard about that Light of Life Society would hold it, which is moving.

Group photo of Light of Life Society of Cancer Rehabilitation’s 24th Anniversary 

CeremonyLight of Life Society awards heroes who have fighting against cancer for five years, ten years and fifteen years etc. every year. It provides a stage for them to show themselves and encourages new members and more cancer patients to fight cancer together. In the future, Light of Life Society will affect and influence more cancer patients.

The 9th China Heath Rankings was released: only winner of “Most Social Responsible Specialized Hospital of the Year”

On September 22, the most significant award ceremony in the field of medicine – “The 9th China Health Rankings Award Ceremony” was held at Shanghai.

The event was held by 39.net. More than 70 leaders from many large-scale hospitals in China, more than 120 medical experts, over 500 elites of pharmaceutical industry and over 60 media attended this event. The award ceremony released several prizes including “Person of the Year”, “Most Popular Three-A Hospital of China” and “Most Social Responsible Hospital of the Year” etc.

“Most Social Responsible Prize of the Year” were a series of prizes which including “Most Social Responsible Multinational Pharmaceutical Company of the Year”, “Most Social Responsible Public Pharmaceutical Company of the Year”, “Most Social Responsible Specialized Hospital of the Year” and “Most Social Responsible Charitable Activity” etc.

There were six pharmaceutical companies, a specialized hospital and a charitable activity winning the series of prizes. They are public-spirited. They work hard to create value and undertake social responsibility, which makes them set example of taking social responsibility in medicine in 2016.

Among them, Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital was awarded the prize “Most Social Responsible Specialized Hospital of the Year”, which was the only specialized hospital winning the award over the country.

Zuo Jiansheng (R3), president of Guangzhou Fuda Medical Co., Ltd. received the award.

Zuo Jiansheng, president of Guangzhou Fuda Medical Co., Ltd said: “Being awarded the prize ‘Most Social Responsible Specialized Hospital of the Year’ is the greatest support and praise.”

How a social responsible hospital develops

At present, people’s general recognition to private hospital is low. From their point of view, it’s hard to connect “social responsibility” with “private hospital”.

However, Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital is just a private specialized hospital. Thought it has developed for just 13 years, it sets many records in the industry. FUDA devotes to improve terminal cancer patient’s life quality and prolong their life. It broke the usual bad habit of accepting red packets from patients and their family. Accepting red pockets, brokerage, meals and gifts never happen at FUDA. And it has donated more than 18 million yuan in all kinds of charitable activities.  

“Since established, FUDA always makes effort to be responsible to society and shape new image of private hospital with excellent medical skills and noble medical ethics. Winning the prize ‘Most Social Responsible Specialized Hospital of the Year’ is the greatest support and praise to us.” President of Guangzhou Fuda Medical Co., Ltd. said. 

Holding on to integrity, facing up to challenge and continuing to make innovation are the key elements that made Fuda Hospital role model of undertaking social responsibility. 

Keyword 1: Integrity

What private hospital lacks is brand and trust from patient nowadays. Chief president Xu Kecheng hopes to develop a different hospital, branded and trustworthy hospital when he established Fuda Cancer Hospital. Integrity is the base of private hospital’s development. If company doesn’t hold to integrity, it’s just like chronic suicide.

General manager of Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital Liu Jianguo pointed out that, as a private cancer specialized hospital, the brand of FUDA was not accumulated overnight but day by day.

★ Legal operation and paying taxes as required. From 2008 to 

2014, this private hospital has paid more than 200 million yuan in tax. Just in last year, it paid over 30 million yuan in tax, which made it became AAA taxpayer enterprise of Guangzhou.

★ Never forget public welfare thought it’s not public hospital. Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital insists in devoting into social public welfare career and charitable activities. In Wenchuan earthquake in 2008, FUDA donated 9.5 million in cash, ranking the first place among medical organizations of Guangdong. And it also sent the first medical team from private hospital. In Ya’an earthquake in 2013, they donated 5 million yuan. They donated 2 million for injured children and their family in Tianjing explosive accident at August 12…

FUDA has eliminated about 5 million yuan medical fee of more than 400 poor patients with low income. Although it reduced little profit, it took responsibility for society and won social trust so that winning brand awareness and good reputation. 

★ To patients, FUDA holds on to “Three Nos” principle. No overtreatment, no excessive examination, no overmedication. FUDA charges with integrity. Meanwhile, FUDA sets strict regulation – Medical staff is prohibited accepting red pockets, brokerage and meals. Once accept patient’s red pocket or any gift, related person not only has to afford the patient’s entire medical fee, but also accepted punishment, even dismissal. 

At FUDA, noble medical ethics and excellent medical skills are listed as two essential requirements of hospital’s development. “Professional medical care, friendly patient services”, the hospital tenet is practiced in every detail, which winning trust from numerous patients at home and abroad. 

Keyword 2: Challenge

It’s a hospital with short history and a hospital that constantly creating life miracles. Under the leadership of chief president Xu Kecheng, medical teams have successfully challenged “incurable disease”: Gurli from Denmark, Lana from Saudi Abrabia, Liangliang and Airin from Malaysia, Mingzai and Bingbing etc. Cancer patients who were on the edge of life and death gain new life here one by one.

As such, it attracts patients from more than 80 countries to seek medical care here. FUDA also has developed from a small hospital with 20 ward beds to a medical group with two districts and over 400 ward beds.

Chief president Xu Kecheng stressed, “Hospital’s development depends on choosing different way that people can’t imagine. We should think about it. Things that others do not dare to do, we should spare no effort to do it. Facing up to challenges has been FUDA’s style. It’s sure that challenging the impossible is based on security kept by academic pursuit, professional and careful preparation. ”

On August 11, it successfully operated a Nanoknife surgery for an 89-year old Philippine patient with pancreas head tumor, which remarking the case of the oldest pancreatic cancer patient that accepted Nanoknife therapy. FUDA set a new record again in the world.

Keyword 3: Innovation

Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital mainly accepts advanced cancer patients. Enhancing patient’s life quality and survival requires not only sincere services, but also real medical skills, the “hard power” of treating cancer.

Making innovation is the fundamental solution of hospital’s development. Therefore, FUDA sticks to develop hospital by technology since it established. And it gathers a group of experts and scholars at home and abroad to explore cancer treatment. FUDA firstly introduced advanced techniques like cryosurgery, Nanoknife therapy etc. in China, which remarking many firsts in the industry. 

More than ten thousand cases of cryosurgery for cancer treatment ranks the first in the world. Successful rates of treating pancreatic cancer, central lung cancer and giant liver cancer etc. rank first. It published the first work of cryosurgery Cryosurgery for Cancer (written by Xu Kecheng and Niu Lizhi) and the first work of New Techinique of Cancer Ablation -- Irreversible Electroporation (written by Xu Kecheng and Niu Lizhi).

As one of the units firstly introducing cryosurgery, FUDA won “Outstanding Contribution to World Cryosurgery Award” by International Society of Cryosurgery, “Outstanding Contribution Award” by World Conference on Interventional Oncology, “Outstanding Contribution Award” by China Academic Conference on Mini-invasive Cancer Treatment etc.  

In 2010, Fuda Cancer Hospital was elected as “National Clinical Key Department (Oncology Department)” among 5500 private hospital in China by Chinese Health Department. Meanwhile, FUDA was approved as “Clinical Key Department (Oncology Department) of Guangdong”.

Behind the series of firsts, there are persistent explorations to medical difficulty and philanthropic humanistic feelings of medical staff at Fuda Cancer Hospital, as well as the reflection of undertaking social responsibility.

 

Mid-Autumn Festival of Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital’s surgeons: Being on duty and rescuing patients

Vacation is valuable, but life is more precious comparatively. With doctors’ perseverance and dedication, patients can reunite with family and enjoy their happy time. We have to express our gratitude to doctors: Thanks for your hard work!

Dr. Niu Lizhi, director Zhu Weibing and other medical staff were rescuing patient at operation room.

Mid-Autumn Festival, to most people, it’s a day for family’s reunion. With a full moon hanging in the sky, family sits around the table and enjoys the happiness of reunion satisfactorily. However, to doctors, it’s just a normal day. Even it means being on duty and rescuing patients.

 

Recently, an article named “Warmest Story at Mid-Autumn Festival' was spread in doctors’ friend circle. The story was about a doctor Xiao Bai who still stuck to his post at Mid-Autumn Festival, which was sincere and moving.

 

At operation room of Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital, a moving scene was witnessed at the same day…

 

In the morning of September 15, director Zhu Weibing who hasn’t had vacation for a long time was about to go hike during Mid-Autumn Festival holiday. The routine was scheduled. When he was going to leave, an urgent call made him rush to hospital.

 

In the ICU, a Malaysian patient with intestinal lymphoma hospitalized at FUDA’s condition became worse with obnubilation suddenly. When the doctor visited the patient checked patient’s situation, he called Zhu Weibing immediately.

 

Zhu Weibing has forgotten how many holidays were spent at first aid room. He recalled that he has never enjoyed Mid-Autumn Festival Holiday since it’s carried out.

 

At mean time, like usual, president Niu Lizhi still changed shift and made ward round. He has been used to it that every holiday is duty day.

 

After checking patient’s condition, Niu Lizhi and Zhu Weibing realized the severity of patient’s state immediately. “Perform operation right away!” Because symptoms like mental confusion, incontinence and low index of oxygen saturation and so on showed in the morning of that day, doctors decided to perform operation at once after discussion.

 

Time is life. Preparatory work was completed intensely. While communicating with patient’s family and telling them the risks of the operation, patient was having abdomen CT scan.

 

The result showed that patient’s abdomen was full of effusion. Therefore, doctor conducted drainage through catheter for him. But the most serious condition is that patient’s colon was rupturing. Waste leaked in abdomen, which had to be cleaned immediately.

 

Zhu Weibing informed medical staff of operation room urgently. Related doctors and nurses on the duty and on vacation went back to their work within the shortest time without any complaint.

 

At 3 p.m., patient received anesthesia, and the operation was started. Niu Lizhi, Zhu Weibing and other medical staff were fighting for life like usual.

Medical staff was visiting the patient.

After 5 hours, it’s 8 p.m. When every family was lighting the lantern and appreciating the full moon, surgeons of Fuda Cancer Hospital finally finished the operation. The patient was out of danger and everyone felt relieved.

Getting down from the operating table, director Zhu Weibing felt thirsty and wanted to drink some juice, but all stores were closed. “Being a surgeon was hard and busy, but I has been used to it from several decades. Since I chose this job, I have to work hard.”

 

We can stand endless overtime just for conscience and responsibility. The oath of Hippocrates we took is not lie. Once we took, we will remember for life.

 

“Today if we enjoy Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, patients can’t enjoy their Mid-Autumn Festival. As a doctor, saving patients is my responsibility and mission. It’s our greatest relief to watch patients being rescued. ” President Niu Lizhi said. From his eyes, we saw a bit regret. He was sorry for he couldn’t spend time with family and said, “It’s work. I have no choice! Compared with family, patients need us more at such moment.”

What Should Be the Alternative When Cancer Is Unresectable?

Introduction to the conference

With the purpose of further standardization and promotion of minimally-invasive ablation treatment for cancer, China Forum on Ablation Therapy in conjunction with the 3rd China Forum on Embolization Therapy was convened from August 4th to 7th, 2016, in Tianjin, together with the establishment of Ablation Expert Committee at the same time. Apart from well-known experts and scholars abroad, the conference also brought together specialists from varying medical fields including epidemiology, surgery, medicine, radiotherapy, medical imaging, pathology to address on new technologies and concepts. Prof. Niu Lizhi, president of Fuda Cancer Hospital affiliated to Jinan University School of Medicine, upon the invitation, delivered a keynote speech titled New Minimally-invasive Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer- Argon-Helium Cryosurgery and NanoKnife Therapy (irreversible electroporation).

Ablation therapy brings a new hope for cancer patient

It is statistically shown that nearly one-third of families in China might be threatened by cancer in the next decade. More seriously, 80% of cancer patients are already at advanced stage upon the first diagnosis, leaving them no opportunity of having surgical resection, for lacking in awareness of tumor prevention. In such a case, how to improve the survival rate and life quality of cancer patients has become an important issue in today's medical field.

Surgical resection, chemotherapy, radiotherapy are the three conventional treatments for cancer, which, however, are only effective in 20%-30% cancer patients. With the development of imaging technology, interventional oncology has already become one of four “pillars” in cancer treatment.

Prof. Niu Lizhi pointed out that interventional treatment, the fastest developing ablation treatment today, includes thermal ablation (Radiofrequency, microwave) and cold ablation (cryoablation and liquid nitrogen); irreversible electroporation (NanoKnife) is neither cold nor hot special technique; there are some technologies in development, such as laser, focused ultrasound etc.

Ablation therapy can not only bring hope for those middle-advanced cancer patients with urecsectable tumor, but can also achieve the same curative effect as surgery in treating some early-staged cancers, like liver cancer, kidney cancer and prostate cancer.

Different types of ablation technology are applicable to different tumors, for example, thermal ablation including RF, microwave are mainly used for treating liver cancer, while cryosurgical ablation are more suitable for prostate and kidney cancer; NanoKnife with the advantage of being neither hot or cold stands out as a preferential treatment for pancreatic cancer which is particularly intolerable to thermal ablation.

Local ablation has advantages in treating pancreatic cancer 

The modern cryosurgical ablation represented by argon-helium technology emerging in the last 20th century together with IRE (irreversible electroporation, namely, NanoKnife) that rapidly developed in recent years both brings a new hope of life to cancer patients with inoperable tumor.

Prof. Niu Lizhi highlighted the advantage of cryoablation and NanoKnife in treating pancreatic cancer in his speech. 

In recent years, pancreatic cancer morbidity dramatically rises in China and many other Asian countries and regions, along with the change in dietary structure (meat takes up increasingly higher proportion in resident's dietary) and living environment, etc.

Surgical resection, as the primary option in treating pancreatic cancer (regarded as the king of cancer), is however rarely applied in real terms for the late detection. And chemotherapy, as another optional treatment, is insensitive to pancreatic cancer in practical terms. In recent years, Fuda Cancer Hospital conducted a series of treatments including argon-helium cryotherapy, NanoKnife effectively treating numerous middle-advanced stage cancer patients, and basically achieved its aim at controlling tumor progression, improving life quality and prolonging survive time.

Prof. Niu Lizhi introduced that Fuda Cancer Hospital took the lead in developing Nanoknife therapy in Mainland China in July 2015, and it was also the first hospital to report preclinical study of Nano-knife ablation on pancreatic cancer, which proves that NanoKnife makes no destruction on bile duct, portal vein and other important intracorporal organs (see Journal of Interventional Radiology, 2015).

In addition, Fuda Cancer Hospital has already published seven papers on NanoKnife therapy for pancreatic cancer in US Pancreas-the world’s most authoritative journal in the field of pancreas.

Up to now, Fuda Cancer Hospital has performed NanoKnife ablation on over 140 cancer patients, and half of those patients are pancreatic cancer patient.

During the 5th International (Guangzhou) Forum for Cancer Treatment held on Jul. 2nd, 2016, two IRE procedures were live broadcast. The surgeon was Prof. Niu Lizhi. One of these two patients, a 55-year old Hong Kong SAR resident, had repeated fever and abdominal pain since early 2016. After inspected, he was found a tumor measuring about 3.8cm in pancreatic tail and diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. On the live broadcast, Prof. Niu performed IRE on the pancreatic tumor under the guidance of ultrasound and CT scan. The procedure went successfully and intraoperative bleeding was only 2ml, which greatly wowed all the guests present.

Prof. Niu Lizhi pointed out that Nanoknife has more advantages compared with other ablation technologies. For example, it is selective for tissue ablation, which damages cells rather than vascular walls, nerves, bile ducts, intestinal canal and so on. The ablation procedure can be displayed by ultrasound, CT or MR, ensuring that ablation effect was to the best therefore. Therefore, Nanoknife ablation, especially applicable to the tumor around great vessels, hepatic hilus, gallbladder, bile duct and ureter, shows unique advantages in treating pancreatic and liver cancer.

The development of brachytherapy in China gained the world’s attention

By Dr. Niu Lizhi  executive president of Jinan University School of Medicine affiliated Fuda Cancer Hospital

June 28th, 2016, the second day of the 2016 ABS World Congress-American Brachytherapy Society, was the time for Chinese experts to demonstrate the development of brachytherapy in China. The congress has witnessed the speeches of over 10 Chinese medical experts and 20 wall posters. The original research in China has gained the word’s attention. In particular, the scientific literacy and Englishproficiency of Chinese doctors are inspiring. I firmly believe that the development of brachytherapy for cancer holds a bright future in China.

                   CIBS members and chairman of the congress

On the same day, Prof. Zhang Fujun, Prof. Wang Junjie and Prof. Zhang Jianguo from Interventional Brachytherapy Branch, Committee of Minimally Invasive Therapy in Oncology, Chinese Anti-cancer Association established official relations with ABS, which has for the first time secured China’s Brachytherapy Society’s place in the world arena. It is fair to say that the day is a milestone in the history of brachytherapy in China.

Expert meetings

ABS World Congress-American Brachytherapy Society and CIBS held their first official meeting in San Francisco on June 28th, 2016. Prof. David Gaffney, incumbent chairman of ABS/WCB, Prof. Steven Frank, former chairman of ABS/WBC, Secretary Ms. Cate Yashar, CFO Firas Mourtada, the executive director Mr. Rick Guggolz met the incumbent chairman Prof. Zhang Fujun, former chairman Prof. Wang Junjie, vice-chairman Prof. Zhang Jianguo, after-loading therapy expert Prof. Cheng Guanghui of Interventional Brachytherapy Branch, Committee of Minimally Invasive Therapy in Oncology, Chinese Anti-cancer Association and discussed matters, including cooperation, exchange visits, young doctor training, etc.

Prof. Wang Junjie delivered a speech titled “China Brachytherapy Update-Current Situation & Prospectives”, introducing to the audience the status quo of Brachytherapy in China, 3D Printing Individual Templates Guided Brachytherapy and technology promotion. Prof. Zhang Fujun briefed to the participants the achievements made in the field of brachytherapy in China in the past ten years and more, especially the innovations made in radioactive particle stent and 3D printing.

Experts from other countries spoke highly of the innovation spirit of Chinese doctors shown in developing radioactive particle stent, 3D printing and rapid degradation particle chain and have tentatively reached an accord that a special session on seed implantation therapy will be set up for Chinese experts at the next session of forum to be held in Boston in April 2017. Moreover, several leaderships and experts from foreign Societies will be invited to attend China Academic Conference on Seed Implantation for Cancer or China Congress of Brachytherapy for enhanced communication and understanding to make World Congress of Brachytherapy to be held in China.

Congress summery

June 28th, 2016 was the day for Chinese experts to demonstrate the development of brachytherapy in China. At the congress, 10 delegates from Chinese delegation delivered speeches and 20 wall posters were put up, which have gained the word’s attention. In particular, the scientific literacy and Englishproficiency of Chinese doctors are quite inspiring.

Prof. Niu Lizhi, Jinan University School of Medicine affiliated Fuda Cancer Hospital delivered a speech and had his paper posted

At the congress, several Chinese experts showed to the participants the research on radioactive seeds for solid tumors. Prof. Wang Juan from Hebei General Hospital reported the research on radioactive seeds implantation therapy for retroperitoneal tumor. Prof. Li Yuliang from the Second Hospital of Shandong University reported the research on seed implantation therapy for pancreatic cancer. Prof. Niu Lizhi from Jinan University School of Medicine affiliated Fuda Cancer Hospital reported radioactive seeds implantation therapy for cardiac tumor and pancreatic tumor. In addition, the reports delivered by experts from Tianjin Medical University, Jiangsu Province Hospital, Chinese PLA General Hospital have gained extensive attention from the participants.

In recent years, China has made significant development in the field of radioactive seeds implantation therapy for cancer. The innovative research and superb achievement made by Chinese experts can be shown in the following aspects:

1、Seed chain

An US study shows that when it comes to seed implantation in the prostate cancer, the rate of seed displacement to lung by using particle chain is much lower than that of chainless seed implantation. Moreover, using particle chain has guaranteed the uniform distribution of the seeds and the dosage also, which is the main reason why doctors from the US give preference to particle chain. The degradation of particle chain needs 90 days. In comparison, the degradation of particle chain material, a patent owned by Prof. Zhang Fujun from China only takes 10 days. Medical experts showed great interest in the new material, hoping that Prof. Zhang Fujun could commercialize it in the shortest term.

2、MR

The focus of the current session of conference is that many hospitals in the US have been performing brachytherapy under MR guidance especially for pelvic organ tumors in that MR is the most accurate imaging examination for pelvic organs, such as prostate, uterine neck, rectum and anus. Brachytherapy for tumors in these organs requires precise positioning. MR-guided brachytherapy has just started in China. Prof. Li Chengli from Shandong Medical Imaging Research Institute is an authoritative expert in MR-guided brachytherapy. We believe with his effort, MR-guided brachytherapy will be more and more widely used in China.

3、Brain tumor

An American hospital carried out a research where radioactive seeds are inserted into the surrounding tissue after primary brain tumor resection in order to prevent tumor recurrence. The research showed that radioactive seed implantation in the surrounding tissue after primary tumor resection can reduce the recurrence rate of tumor. Prof. Hu Xiaokun, chairman of Image Technology Branch, Committee of Minimally Invasive Therapy in Oncology, Chinese Anti-Cancer Association, has made remarkable achievement in the field of seeds implantation for brain tumor. Regrettably, he didn’t make it to attend the current session of congress. We hope he could attend the next session of congress to show to the world his research achievement.

Indian experts carried out research on radioactive seeds for head and neck tumor

4、Head and neck tumor

Head and neck tumor are the tumors of the highest incidence rate in India. The application of high dose rate Iridium-192 has achieved good curative effect as it is shown in the pictures below. The team of professors represented by Prof. Zhang Jianguo has made the most brilliant achievement in the field of brachytherapy for head and neck tumor. The clinical result and research achievement in brachytherapy for neck and head tumor are leading the world and have gained the attention of the participating experts.

      Indian experts carried out research on radioactive seeds for head and neck tumor

5、Vertebral tumor

Vertebrae are the most common site of metastases. Applying radioactive I-125 seeds implantation on metastatic vertebral tumor after failure of radiotherapy or when radiotherapy is not applicable is the innovation made by Chinese medical experts. Both team of professors represented by Prof. Wang Junjie from Peking University Third Hospital and team of professors represented by Prof. Huang Xuequan shared with the participants their experience and research on radioactive seeds for vertebral tumors, the good therapeutic effect of which has gained the attention of foreign experts.

6、Lung cancer

At the current session of forum, the only research report on brachytherapy for lung cancer was made by the team of professors represented by Prof. Zhang Fujun from Sun Yat-sen University. They reported the significant efficacy of radioactive I-125 seeds implantation for metastatic lung cancer and primary and unresectable lung tumors as well as the significant increase of local control rate and prolongation of survival time. The study was published in Radiology-the top magazine in interventional treatment. 

7、Radioactive seeds stent

The team of professors represented by Prof. Guo Jinhe from Southeast University reported the research results of animal experiment and clinical studies on radioactive seeds stent for tracheal-caused stenosis. The strategy has not only solved the problem of tracheal stenosis but also enabled the radioactive seeds to treat cancer, which has prevented tumor recurrence and effectively prolonged the survival time of cancer patients. The study was published in the well-known magazine Lancet Oncology.

Low-dose-rate seed VS high-dose-rate seed: each has its own strength

In the US, high-dose-rate seeds (including Palladium-103, Iridium-192) are used to treat solid tumors, prostate cancer excluded. High-dose-rate seeds can be taken away within a short period of time after radiating the tumor tissue, which can be classified into temporary seed implantation. In comparison, low-dose-rate seeds have to be implanted in the tumor for a long term, which falls into the category of permanent seed implantation. The advantages of temporary seed implantation are short irradiation time and good short-term effect though it also has its downside. Prof. Wang Juan from Hebei General Hospital noted that the protection of high-dose-rate seed is more difficult than that of the low-dose-rate one, which better suits Chinese condition. The advantage of low-dose-rate is that the total irradiation dosage can be increased. According to research from Japan, good tolerance is noted when prostate cancer patients were given I-125 seeds implantation, the radioactivity of which is up to 200GY. It also shows the safety of low-dose-rate seed implantation.

In a nutshell, both low-dose-rate seed and high-dose-rate seed have their own strength and are suitable for different tumors. We hope that seeds with different dose rates will be available for cancer patients in China.