CAR-T Therapy in Shanghai: Top Hospitals & Specialists Guide

CAR-T Therapy in Shanghai: Top Hospitals & Specialists Guide

CAR-T Therapy in Shanghai: Top Hospitals & Specialists Guide

CAR-T cell therapy (Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell therapy) represents one of the most significant breakthroughs in cancer immunotherapy. Shanghai has emerged as China's leading hub for CAR-T treatment, with world-class hospitals and pioneering oncologists offering this life-saving therapy to both domestic and international patients.

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of where to access CAR-T therapy in Shanghai, which specialists lead these programs, and how China Medical Concierge Shanghai (CMCS) can coordinate your care.

What Is CAR-T Therapy?

CAR-T therapy is a form of adoptive cell therapy in which a patient's own T-cells are genetically engineered to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that target specific cancer antigens. The modified cells are then infused back into the patient to seek and destroy cancer cells.

CAR-T is currently approved and widely used in China for:

  • Relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL)
  • Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL)
  • Multiple myeloma
  • Follicular lymphoma and other B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas

Clinical trials in Shanghai are also exploring CAR-T applications in solid tumors, including hepatocellular carcinoma, gastric cancer, and lung cancer.

Top Shanghai Hospitals for CAR-T Therapy

1. Ruijin Hospital (瑞金医院) — Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine

Ruijin Hospital is one of China's premier hematology centers and a national leader in CAR-T cell therapy research and clinical application. Its hematology department has treated hundreds of patients with CAR-T for hematologic malignancies and runs multiple active clinical trials.

  • Strengths: Hematologic malignancies, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma
  • CAR-T Programs: Both commercial products (e.g., Axicabtagene ciloleucel, Relma-cel) and investigator-initiated trials
  • Address: 197 Ruijin Er Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai

2. Zhongshan Hospital (中山医院) — Fudan University

Fudan University Zhongshan Hospital combines exceptional hematology and oncology departments with cutting-edge translational research. The hospital participates in national CAR-T clinical trial networks and offers multidisciplinary tumor boards for complex cases.

  • Strengths: Lymphoma, hepatocellular carcinoma (solid tumor CAR-T trials), hematologic cancers
  • CAR-T Programs: Commercial and trial-based; active in solid tumor CAR-T research
  • Address: 180 Fenglin Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai

3. Shanghai General Hospital (上海市第一人民医院) — Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Shanghai General Hospital's hematology department is a recognized center for CAR-T therapy, particularly for ALL and lymphoma. The hospital has a dedicated cellular therapy unit with experienced apheresis and infusion teams.

  • Strengths: B-ALL, DLBCL, CLL
  • CAR-T Programs: Commercial products and clinical trials
  • Address: 100 Haining Road, Hongkou District, Shanghai

4. Huashan Hospital (华山医院) — Fudan University

Huashan Hospital is internationally recognized for neurology and neurosurgery, but its hematology and oncology departments also participate in CAR-T programs, particularly for CNS-involved lymphoma cases requiring integrated neurological and hematological expertise.

  • Strengths: CNS lymphoma, complex hematologic cases with neurological involvement
  • Address: 12 Wulumuqi Middle Road, Jing'an District, Shanghai

5. Shanghai Changzheng Hospital (长征医院) — Naval Medical University

Changzheng Hospital has a strong hematology program with active CAR-T clinical trials, particularly for multiple myeloma and relapsed/refractory lymphoma. It is one of the key sites for BCMA-targeted CAR-T trials in China.

  • Strengths: Multiple myeloma, lymphoma, BCMA-targeted CAR-T
  • Address: 415 Fengyang Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai

Leading CAR-T Specialists in Shanghai

Prof. Zhao Weili (赵维莅) — Ruijin Hospital

Prof. Zhao Weili is the Director of Hematology at Ruijin Hospital and one of China's foremost authorities on lymphoma and CAR-T cell therapy. She has led landmark clinical trials in CAR-T for DLBCL and B-cell lymphomas and is a principal investigator on multiple national and international studies. Her team has published extensively on CAR-T outcomes in Chinese patients.

Specialties: Lymphoma, CAR-T cell therapy, hematologic malignancies, clinical trials

Prof. Chen Saijuan (陈赛娟) — Ruijin Hospital / Shanghai Institute of Hematology

An academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Prof. Chen Saijuan is a pioneer in leukemia research and molecular targeted therapy. Her laboratory has contributed foundational work to CAR-T development in China, particularly for acute leukemia subtypes.

Specialties: Leukemia, molecular hematology, CAR-T research, APL

Prof. Fan Jia (樊嘉) — Zhongshan Hospital

As President of Zhongshan Hospital and a leading hepatobiliary surgeon, Prof. Fan Jia oversees multidisciplinary oncology programs that increasingly incorporate immunotherapy and CAR-T approaches for liver cancer. His team is at the forefront of solid tumor CAR-T research in China.

Specialties: Hepatocellular carcinoma, liver transplantation, solid tumor immunotherapy

Prof. Zhou Jian (周俭) — Zhongshan Hospital

Prof. Zhou Jian is Vice President of Zhongshan Hospital and a world-renowned hepatobiliary surgeon. He collaborates closely with oncology and immunotherapy teams on CAR-T and other cellular therapy approaches for advanced liver cancer.

Specialties: Liver cancer surgery, hepatocellular carcinoma, immunotherapy integration

Prof. Du Juan (杜鹃) — Changzheng Hospital

Prof. Du Juan is a leading hematologist at Changzheng Hospital specializing in multiple myeloma and CAR-T cell therapy. She is a principal investigator on BCMA-targeted CAR-T trials and has extensive experience managing complex myeloma cases with cellular immunotherapy approaches.

Specialties: Multiple myeloma, CAR-T cell therapy, BCMA-targeted therapy, hematologic malignancies

CAR-T Therapy Process: What to Expect

The CAR-T treatment journey typically involves the following steps:

  1. Eligibility Assessment: Comprehensive review of medical records, pathology, and prior treatment history by the CAR-T specialist team.
  2. Apheresis: Collection of the patient's T-cells via a blood separation procedure (typically 4–6 hours).
  3. Manufacturing: T-cells are sent to a GMP-certified facility for genetic modification. This process takes 2–4 weeks depending on the product.
  4. Bridging Therapy: Some patients receive chemotherapy or other treatments during the manufacturing period to control disease progression.
  5. Lymphodepletion: A conditioning chemotherapy regimen (typically fludarabine + cyclophosphamide) is administered 5–7 days before infusion.
  6. CAR-T Infusion: The engineered cells are infused intravenously, usually as a single infusion.
  7. Monitoring & Management: Patients are monitored closely for cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) for 2–4 weeks post-infusion.
  8. Response Assessment: PET-CT or bone marrow biopsy is performed at 1 and 3 months post-infusion to assess response.

Costs & Insurance Considerations

CAR-T therapy in China is significantly more affordable than in Western countries, though it remains a major investment:

  • Commercial CAR-T products (e.g., Axicabtagene ciloleucel / Yescarta, Relma-cel): approximately RMB 1.2–1.5 million (USD 165,000–210,000)
  • Clinical trial enrollment: May significantly reduce or eliminate product costs; eligibility criteria apply
  • Hospitalization and supportive care: Additional RMB 100,000–300,000 depending on complications and length of stay

Some commercial CAR-T products are now covered under China's National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL) for eligible patients with domestic insurance. International patients typically pay out-of-pocket, though some international insurance policies may provide partial coverage.

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How CMCS Can Help

China Medical Concierge Shanghai (CMCS) is a professional healthcare navigation service that connects international patients with Shanghai's leading CAR-T specialists and hospitals. We are not a hospital — we are your dedicated medical concierge, ensuring every step of your treatment journey is coordinated, translated, and supported.

Our services include:

  • Medical record review and eligibility pre-assessment
  • Direct referral to the most appropriate CAR-T specialist and hospital
  • Appointment scheduling and medical interpretation
  • Coordination of apheresis, manufacturing logistics, and infusion scheduling
  • Accommodation, visa support, and in-hospital accompaniment
  • Post-treatment follow-up coordination

To begin your inquiry, please contact our Case Manager:

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