[China Tech] Shanghai Chest Hospital Leads Lung Cancer Research Projects

China Tech is a column dedicated to the innovations reshaping China – and, inevitably, the world. From cutting-edge AI labs and next-gen robotics to homegrown apps that redefine daily life, we explore the breakthroughs that emerge from the country's relentless drive for technological dominance. Some are game-changers, others cautionary tales, but all offer a glimpse into the future as it's being built, at breakneck speed, in China.

Long-term survival

Shanghai Chest Hospital, specializing in innovative drug research and development, has helped many patients with terminal lung cancer to achieve long-term survival and even clinical recovery.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and is the most common and deadliest cancer in China, where over 1 million new cases and 733,000 deaths are reported each year.

Most patients in China are diagnosed at the terminal stage, missing the optimal chance for treatment. If lung cancer is detected and treated early, approximately 77 to 92 percent of patients can survive for more than five years. In contrast, the survival rate for patients diagnosed at the terminal stage ranges from only 10 to 36 percent.

For those who miss the opportunity for the best surgical intervention, innovative medications offer a ray of hope. At Shanghai Chest Hospital, many terminal patients have achieved long-term survival, with the longest record to date being 22 years.

In a recent celebration with patient representatives acknowledging their long-term survival, a 75-year-old woman diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in 2007 shared her experience. She has participated in a clinical trial for Gefitinib, a targeted therapy, since her diagnosis and continues to take the medication.

"The latest CT scan has confirmed that the lesion has disappeared," she said. "This innovative treatment allows me to accompany my son as he grows up, and I am confident I will be there for my grandson as well."

New drug innovation

China has emerged as a significant player in the field of new drug research and development, currently ranking second in the world for the quantity of new drugs developed. Shanghai Chest Hospital has established itself as a leader in lung cancer research.

Over the past five years, Shanghai Chest Hospital has spearheaded 184 research projects focused on lung cancer, which include 42 international multi-center projects. This capacity has garnered international recognition.

Recently, the hospital's research efforts have led to the marketing of more than 30 new drugs or new indications for lung cancer, with some domestic medications also making their way into international markets.

During the recent Sino-Euro Forum on Cardio-Thoracic Diseases, over 400 leading specialists from both domestic and international backgrounds convened in Shanghai to engage with the hospital's achievements.

Dr Lu Shun, who has led 28 research projects on new treatments for lung cancer, including 17 new drugs approved at the national level, said, "The success of these clinical studies means that many patients with advanced lung cancer can live longer. My goal is to make lung cancer a manageable chronic disease, backed by affordable medications."

Lung cancer is categorized into two categories: non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer, with approximately 80 to 85 percent of cases being non-small cell. Squamous cell lung cancer makes up 35 percent of cases of non-small cell lung cancer.

The prestigious journal The Lancet recently published the significant results of Dr. Lu Shun's research on squamous cell lung cancer.

Lu's team investigated Ivonescimab, a domestically developed lung cancer drug, and developed a new treatment approach that combines it with specific chemotherapy. This innovative therapy has demonstrated the ability to extend patients' lives from an average of 6.9 months to 11.14 months.

As a result of this research, a new indication for the drug has been issued and is currently under evaluation.

"This research has enhanced the clinical treatment outcomes for non-small cell lung cancer and offers a new option for patients with terminal squamous cell lung cancer," said Lu. "We are not only advancing research on non-small cell lung cancer but also pioneering breakthroughs in the field of immunotherapy for cancer treatment globally."

Robot-assisted surgeries

In addition to innovative medicine, Shanghai Chest Hospital carries out over 23,000 chest operations in a year, including over 7,200 robot-assisted surgeries.

The quantity of mediastinum tumors and tracheal tumors ranks No. 1 in the nation, lung cancer operations No. 2 in the nation, and esophageal cancer No. 1 in the city.