Professor Xu Ruihua: Precision Treatment for Gastrointestinal Cancer
Professor Xu Ruihua is a senior medical oncologist, professor, doctoral supervisor, and president of Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center in Guangzhou. His clinical and academic work focuses on colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, esophageal cancer, molecular classification, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and new-drug development.
Clinical and Academic Focus
- advanced and recurrent colorectal cancer;
- gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancer;
- esophageal cancer;
- molecular and biomarker testing;
- targeted therapy and immunotherapy;
- treatment after drug resistance;
- multidisciplinary management of metastases; and
- early- and late-phase clinical trials.
Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer treatment depends on stage, tumor location, pathology, molecular findings, disease burden, symptoms, organ function, and previous treatment. Localized disease is often treated with surgery, with chemotherapy or radiotherapy added in selected cases.
For metastatic disease, systemic therapy may be combined with surgery, ablation, radiation, or other local treatment when metastases are limited and technically treatable.
Molecular Testing
Advanced colorectal cancer testing commonly includes RAS, BRAF, and mismatch repair or microsatellite instability. Depending on the case, HER2, NTRK, KRAS G12C, and broader genomic testing may also be relevant.
Gastric and gastroesophageal cancers may require HER2, PD-L1, mismatch repair, CLDN18.2, and selected additional testing. Test method, tissue quality, tumor content, and treatment setting all affect interpretation.
Targeted Therapy
Targeted medicines act on specific proteins or pathways involved in cancer growth. Treatment selection depends on the exact alteration, tumor location, prior therapy, regulatory approval, and the patient’s condition.
A molecular finding does not guarantee response. When cancer progresses, repeat tissue or blood testing may identify a resistance mechanism or another clinical-trial option.
Immunotherapy
Immune checkpoint therapy can provide durable benefit for selected gastrointestinal cancers, particularly tumors with mismatch-repair deficiency or high microsatellite instability. Other biomarkers and combination strategies are being studied.
Immune-related side effects can affect the lungs, liver, bowel, endocrine glands, skin, heart, and nervous system. New symptoms require prompt medical review rather than self-treatment.
Liver and Lung Metastases
Some patients with colorectal cancer limited to the liver or lungs may benefit from surgery or another local treatment. Resectability should be assessed by a multidisciplinary team and may change after systemic therapy.
Conversion therapy aims to shrink initially unresectable disease enough to permit complete local treatment, but this outcome cannot be guaranteed.
Research and Clinical Trials
Professor Xu has led major translational and clinical research in gastrointestinal cancers, including biomarker discovery, immunotherapy, targeted treatment, and novel drug combinations. Clinical-trial eligibility depends on diagnosis, biomarkers, previous treatment, organ function, measurable disease, and available places.
Who May Consider a Consultation?
- patients with advanced or recurrent colorectal, gastric, or esophageal cancer;
- patients needing pathology or molecular re-review;
- patients with uncommon actionable alterations;
- patients whose cancer progressed after standard treatment;
- patients with liver- or lung-limited metastases;
- patients needing a second opinion on systemic and local treatment;
- patients with serious treatment toxicity; or
- patients assessing clinical-trial options.
Medical Records to Prepare
- a concise medical summary and exact treatment timeline;
- CT, MRI, PET-CT, endoscopy, and other imaging in original format;
- pathology reports, glass slides, and paraffin blocks;
- complete molecular, biomarker, and liquid-biopsy reports;
- operative and radiotherapy records;
- every systemic treatment with dates, doses, response, and toxicity;
- recent blood count, liver and kidney function, and tumor markers;
- current symptoms and performance status; and
- a clear list of priorities and questions.
Planning an International Consultation
Before travel, patients should confirm whether records, imaging, pathology, and molecular results can be reviewed. Remote medical-record review requires physician authorization. Final treatment and clinical-trial eligibility require complete assessment by the treating team.
How CMCS Can Assist
CMCS – China Medical Concierge Shanghai is an independent medical concierge and health management company, not a hospital. We assist international patients with organizing and translating oncology records, identifying an appropriate specialist, requesting appointment availability, arranging interpretation, and planning medical travel in China.
Access to Professor Xu, remote review, a particular medicine, or a clinical trial is subject to doctor and hospital approval. CMCS does not guarantee appointments, treatment eligibility, trial enrollment, or clinical outcomes.
- Email: contract@medicalsh.com
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Important Note
Doctor roles, biomarker requirements, medicine approvals, trial availability, and appointment arrangements may change. This profile is for general information only and does not replace assessment by a qualified gastrointestinal oncology team.
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