Dr. Niu Lizhi, the President of Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital visited cancer survivors in Jakarta

On April 11, 2016, Dr. Niu Lizhi, the President of Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital, visited previous cancer patients of Fuda Cancer Hospital in Jakarta after attending ASEAN (International) Forum on Intestine Cancer Treatment in Bali. Affra  Siowardjaja (born in May 6, 1956), who suffered from stage IV breast cancer with bone metastases, have survived 12 years without recurrence after receiving comprehensive treatments that include cryosurgery, chemotherapy and repair surgery, chemotherapy and immunotherapy at FUDA in 2004.

Breast cancer patient Mary Laurensia, born in August 6, 1969, was found to have a breast mass in 2007 but she did not pay any attention to it. In 2008, the mass was found to have grown bigger especially after the pathological examination, which confirmed that she suffered from Stage III breast cancer. She has survived 8 years without recurrence after receiving argon-helium cryosurgery, 6 cycles of chemotherapy, 35 sessions of radiotherapy and endocrine therapy for three years.

Prostate cancer patient Fachrutdin Tjoe, born on August 4, 1947, has survived 7 years without recurrence after receiving argon-helium cryosurgery, interventional chemotherapy in 2009. Oral and liver lymphoma Yana Sari Putri Sihombing, born on January 4, 1079, has survived 7 years without recurrence after receiving argon-helium cryosurgery and chemotherapy at FUDA in 2009. 

Anal canal carcinoma patient Tan Hong Som, born on December 4, 1950, has his anus successfully preserved after receiving PDT (photodynamic therapy), interventional chemotherapy and CIC (combined immunotherapy for cancer) at FUDA instead of going through colostomy in other hospital. Patient has survived 5 years without recurrence and enjoyed high-quality life with the anus in situ since the treatment. 

Pancreatic cancer patient Litasari Karwita, female, 55 years old, has been enjoying a stable condition since treatment three years ago. Kidney cancer patient Henry Widjaja, male, 52 years old, has successfully had his kidney preserved after undergoing argon-helium cryosurgery. 

Advanced uterus cancer patient Yang Chunmei, 80 years old, has survived almost 10 years after going through interventional chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy, argon-helium cryosurgery and immunotherapy at FUDA in 2007. 

Lung cancer patient Dr. Tjan Kian Seng, male, 83 years old, has survived 5 years after undergoing one single cycle of cryosurgery. Liver cancer patient Zhong Guoqing, male, 71 years old, has survived 6 years without recurrence after receiving argon-helium cryosurgery and interventional embolization in early 2010. Some of the above-mentioned patients were not be able to present at the lecture due to private affairs but all of them expressed their appreciation to Dr. Niu Lizhi for coming all the long way to visit them.

Dr. Niu Lizhi noted that cancer is still a world problem. Though new drugs and new technologies are emerging by each passing day, patients cannot make progress on their anti-cancer journey without their own persistence, the encouragement and support from the family members and the rational application of innovative treatments by the doctors. Fuda Cancer Hospital has adopted the latest technology for cancer –NanoKnife, which has proven to be effective in treating pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, etc. During the procedure, high electric-field and ultrashort pulses are given to destroy lipid bilayer structure of cancer cell membrane and form numerous irreversible nano-sized pores in the cell membrane. Tumor cell death is induced while surrounding nerves, blood vessels, intestinal canals, bile duct remain intact. Doctors at FUDA hope to bring about more survival benefits for cancer patients with the latest technology. After met with previous patient, Dr. Niu provided free consultation for new diagnosed cancer patients who come all the long way to him.

                  From left: chief editor Li Zhuohui, breast cancer survivor Mary Laurensia, and Dr. Niu Lizhi

From left: liver cancer survivor Marison Pangadean Siagian, chief editor Li Zhuohui, prostate cancer survivor Fachrutdin Tjoe, Dr. Liu Zhengping

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.

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.

 

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.