Expert Stomach & Bowel Cancer Surgery in Shanghai
The Department of Gastric and Gastrointestinal Surgery at Ruijin Hospital — affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine — is one of China's most distinguished centers for the surgical management of gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, and other gastrointestinal malignancies. With expertise spanning minimally invasive and robotic GI surgery, perioperative chemotherapy, cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC, and the multidisciplinary management of advanced GI cancers, the department offers comprehensive surgical care for patients across the full spectrum of GI oncology.
For international patients seeking expert GI surgical care in Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital's department offers a combination of high surgical volume, advanced minimally invasive capability, and a fully integrated GI oncology program that is among the finest in China. China Medical Concierge Shanghai (CMCS) provides seamless end-to-end coordination for international patients throughout their surgical journey.
About the Department
Ruijin Hospital's gastric and GI surgery department is a national key clinical specialty performing hundreds of major GI oncological procedures annually. The department operates dedicated GI surgical wards, minimally invasive and robotic surgical theaters, and works in close collaboration with gastroenterology, oncology, radiology, and pathology through a dedicated GI oncology multidisciplinary team (MDT).
The department is particularly recognized for its expertise in gastric cancer surgery — one of the most common cancers in China — and has been at the forefront of research into perioperative chemotherapy, D2 lymphadenectomy, and the surgical management of advanced and metastatic gastric cancer. Faculty members publish regularly in leading surgical and oncology journals including Annals of Surgery, JAMA Oncology, Journal of Clinical Oncology, and Gastric Cancer.
Conditions Treated
- Gastric Cancer — Early, locally advanced, and metastatic gastric cancer; D2 gastrectomy; perioperative FLOT chemotherapy; HER2-targeted therapy; PD-1 immunotherapy combinations
- Gastroesophageal Junction (GEJ) Cancer — Siewert type I, II, and III tumors; transhiatal and transthoracic resection; perioperative chemotherapy
- Colorectal Cancer — Colon and rectal cancer; laparoscopic and robotic colectomy and anterior resection; total mesorectal excision (TME) for rectal cancer; sphincter-preserving surgery
- Rectal Cancer — Low anterior resection, abdominoperineal resection, and intersphincteric resection; neoadjuvant chemoradiation; watch-and-wait for complete clinical response
- Peritoneal Metastases — Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for selected patients with peritoneal metastases from gastric, colorectal, and appendiceal cancers
- Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST) — Surgical resection; imatinib and sunitinib therapy for advanced disease
- Small Bowel Tumors — Adenocarcinoma, neuroendocrine tumors, and lymphoma of the small intestine
- Appendiceal Tumors — Appendiceal mucinous neoplasms and pseudomyxoma peritonei; CRS-HIPEC
- Esophageal Cancer — Minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) in collaboration with thoracic surgery
- Benign GI Conditions — Peptic ulcer complications, Meckel's diverticulum, intestinal obstruction, and volvulus
- Bariatric & Metabolic Surgery — Sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in collaboration with endocrinology
Leading Specialist
Prof. Zhu Zhenggang (朱正纲) — Director, Gastric Surgery
Prof. Zhu Zhenggang is one of China's most eminent gastric cancer surgeons and a nationally and internationally recognized authority in the surgical management of gastric cancer. As Director of the Gastric Surgery Division at Ruijin Hospital, he has led one of China's most productive gastric cancer surgical and research programs for decades.
Prof. Zhu is particularly recognized for his expertise in D2 gastrectomy — the standard of care for resectable gastric cancer in Asia — and has been a key contributor to the evidence base for extended lymphadenectomy in gastric cancer through participation in landmark clinical trials. His program has been at the forefront of minimally invasive gastric cancer surgery in China, performing laparoscopic and robotic gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy as routine procedures with outcomes comparable to open surgery.
Prof. Zhu has also been a pioneer in the multidisciplinary management of advanced gastric cancer, including perioperative chemotherapy with FLOT and XELOX regimens, conversion surgery for initially unresectable disease, and cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC for selected patients with peritoneal metastases. His research has been published in leading journals including Annals of Surgery, Journal of Clinical Oncology, and Gastric Cancer, and he has been a key contributor to national gastric cancer treatment guidelines in China.
Gastric Cancer Surgery: A Center of Excellence
Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers in China, and Ruijin Hospital's gastric surgery program is one of the most experienced in the country. The program's approach to gastric cancer surgery is characterized by:
D2 Gastrectomy: The Gold Standard
D2 gastrectomy — total or subtotal gastrectomy with extended lymph node dissection — is the standard surgical procedure for resectable gastric cancer in Asia, and Ruijin's surgical team performs this procedure with a level of technical precision and consistency that reflects decades of high-volume experience. The department's D2 gastrectomy outcomes — including R0 resection rates, lymph node harvest, and post-operative complication rates — meet or exceed international benchmarks.
Minimally Invasive Gastrectomy
- Laparoscopic Total Gastrectomy with D2 Lymphadenectomy — For proximal and total gastric cancer
- Laparoscopic Distal Gastrectomy with D2 Lymphadenectomy — For distal gastric cancer; Billroth I, Billroth II, and Roux-en-Y reconstruction
- Robotic Gastrectomy — da Vinci robotic gastrectomy for enhanced precision in lymph node dissection and intracorporeal anastomosis
- Laparoscopic Proximal Gastrectomy — With double-tract or esophagogastric anastomosis for selected proximal tumors
Perioperative Chemotherapy
Ruijin's GI oncology MDT follows international guidelines for perioperative chemotherapy in resectable gastric and GEJ cancer:
- FLOT Regimen — Docetaxel, oxaliplatin, leucovorin, and 5-FU; the current standard perioperative regimen for fit patients with resectable gastric/GEJ cancer
- XELOX/CAPOX — Capecitabine and oxaliplatin for patients not suitable for FLOT
- HER2-Targeted Perioperative Therapy — Trastuzumab and trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) for HER2-positive gastric cancer
- PD-1 Immunotherapy Combinations — Nivolumab and pembrolizumab combinations for PD-L1-positive and MSI-H tumors
Colorectal Cancer Surgery
Ruijin's colorectal surgery program offers the full range of minimally invasive and open procedures for colon and rectal cancer:
- Laparoscopic & Robotic Colectomy — Right, left, sigmoid, and total colectomy with complete mesocolic excision (CME)
- Laparoscopic & Robotic Anterior Resection — Total mesorectal excision (TME) for rectal cancer; ultra-low anterior resection with coloanal anastomosis
- Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision (TaTME) — Transanal approach for low rectal cancer in narrow pelvis
- Intersphincteric Resection (ISR) — Sphincter-preserving surgery for very low rectal cancer
- Watch-and-Wait — Non-operative management for patients with complete clinical response after neoadjuvant chemoradiation
CRS-HIPEC Program
Ruijin Hospital offers cytoreductive surgery (CRS) combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for selected patients with peritoneal metastases from gastric, colorectal, and appendiceal cancers. This complex procedure — which involves surgical removal of all visible peritoneal disease followed by heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy — offers the possibility of long-term survival or cure for carefully selected patients with limited peritoneal spread. Ruijin's CRS-HIPEC program is one of the most experienced in Shanghai, with a dedicated multidisciplinary team and standardized protocols.
Why International Patients Choose Ruijin GI Surgery
- Gastric Cancer Expertise — One of China's most experienced gastric cancer surgical programs with decades of high-volume D2 gastrectomy experience
- Minimally Invasive Leadership — Laparoscopic and robotic gastrectomy and colectomy as routine offerings
- CRS-HIPEC Program — One of Shanghai's most experienced programs for peritoneal metastases from GI cancers
- Perioperative Chemotherapy Integration — Multidisciplinary approach with FLOT, HER2-targeted, and immunotherapy combinations
- Watch-and-Wait for Rectal Cancer — Non-operative management for complete responders after neoadjuvant therapy
- Cost-Effectiveness — World-class GI surgery at significantly lower cost than equivalent care in Western countries
The CMCS Patient Journey
- Initial Inquiry — Share your diagnosis, CT/MRI scans, endoscopy reports, pathology results, tumor markers, and prior treatment history with CMCS.
- Medical Record Preparation — We translate and organize your records for specialist pre-consultation review.
- Specialist Matching — We identify the most appropriate GI surgeon based on your specific condition — gastric, colorectal, or peritoneal disease.
- MDT Submission — Where appropriate, we facilitate pre-arrival case review by Ruijin's GI oncology MDT.
- Priority Scheduling — We secure a consultation and surgical slot with minimal waiting time.
- Travel & Logistics — Assistance with visa invitation letters, accommodation near Ruijin Hospital, and Shanghai airport transfers.
- Surgical Admission Support — Full coordination of pre-operative assessment, perioperative chemotherapy scheduling if required, admission, and inpatient care.
- Post-Operative Follow-Up — Pathology report translation, molecular profiling result interpretation, and remote follow-up after you return home.
Book a Consultation
If you are seeking expert GI surgical care in Shanghai — whether for gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, peritoneal metastases, GIST, or another GI condition — CMCS can arrange a specialist consultation with Ruijin Hospital's gastric and gastrointestinal surgery team.
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