Professor Zhao Yupei: Pancreatic Cancer and Pancreatic Tumor Specialist
Professor Zhao Yupei is Honorary President of Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), a professor and chief physician of surgery, doctoral supervisor, and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He is a leading specialist in pancreatic surgery and the comprehensive management of pancreatic tumors.
His principal areas include the early diagnosis and multidisciplinary treatment of pancreatic cancer, pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, and pancreatic cystic neoplasms.
International patients can learn more about the hospital’s specialties, medical-record requirements, and appointment planning in our Peking Union Medical College Hospital international patient guide.
Clinical Specialties
Professor Zhao’s principal clinical areas include:
- pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma;
- pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors;
- insulinoma and other functional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors;
- non-functional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors;
- pancreatic cystic neoplasms;
- complex pancreatic surgery;
- multidisciplinary treatment planning; and
- second opinions on resectability, diagnosis, and treatment sequence.
Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is the most common pancreatic malignancy. It often causes few symptoms in its early stages and may present with jaundice, abdominal or back pain, unexplained weight loss, appetite change, pancreatitis, or new-onset diabetes.
Treatment planning depends on whether the tumor is resectable, borderline resectable, locally advanced, or metastatic. Review should consider the relationship between the tumor and major blood vessels, suspected spread, tumor markers, the patient’s physical condition, and previous therapy.
For selected patients, treatment may involve surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, clinical trials, supportive care, or a planned sequence of several approaches. A surgeon’s review is important even when imaging initially suggests that the tumor may be difficult to remove.
Complex Pancreatic Surgery
Pancreatic operations may include pancreaticoduodenectomy, distal pancreatectomy, total pancreatectomy, enucleation, or another procedure chosen according to tumor location and biology.
These operations can affect digestion, blood-glucose control, nutrition, and quality of life. Preoperative planning and postoperative management may involve surgery, oncology, gastroenterology, radiology, pathology, anesthesia, nutrition, and endocrinology.
Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors
Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors arise from hormone-producing cells and differ from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in behavior, diagnosis, and treatment. Some produce hormones and cause recognizable clinical syndromes, while others are discovered incidentally or after they have grown or spread.
Functional tumors include insulinoma, gastrinoma, glucagonoma, and other less common types. Evaluation may involve hormone testing, contrast-enhanced CT or MRI, endoscopic ultrasound, somatostatin-receptor imaging, pathology, and tumor-grade assessment.
Treatment can include observation, surgery, somatostatin analogues, targeted treatment, chemotherapy, peptide receptor radionuclide therapy, liver-directed treatment, or another individualized strategy. Availability and suitability vary.
Pancreatic Cystic Neoplasms
Pancreatic cysts are increasingly found during imaging performed for unrelated reasons. Some are benign, while others carry a risk of progression to cancer.
Common cystic neoplasms include intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, mucinous cystic neoplasms, serous cystic neoplasms, and solid pseudopapillary neoplasms. Assessment considers cyst size, growth, mural nodules, duct changes, symptoms, fluid analysis, and patient factors.
Not every pancreatic cyst requires surgery. Some patients can be monitored with scheduled imaging, while others may benefit from resection because of high-risk features.
Research and Academic Contributions
Professor Zhao’s research includes the molecular mechanisms and classification of pancreatic cancer and pancreatic tumors. Representative work includes investigation of pathways involved in pancreatic cancer metastasis, multi-omics classification of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, and early research into engineered macrophage-based cellular therapy targeting c-MET.
Experimental cellular therapy research should not be interpreted as an established or routinely available treatment. Laboratory and early clinical findings require further validation, regulatory review, and careful patient selection.
Professor Zhao has also contributed to medical education, rare-disease initiatives, and the development of pancreatic surgery in China.
Who May Consider a Consultation?
A consultation with Professor Zhao or the PUMCH pancreatic team may be worth considering when a patient:
- has newly diagnosed or suspected pancreatic cancer;
- has been told a tumor is borderline resectable or unresectable;
- needs a second opinion on surgery before or after chemotherapy;
- has a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor;
- has an insulinoma or unexplained episodes of low blood glucose;
- has a pancreatic cyst with concerning features;
- has recurrent disease or complications after pancreatic surgery; or
- needs multidisciplinary review of imaging and pathology.
Medical Records to Prepare
International patients should prepare:
- a concise medical summary and chronological treatment history;
- pancreas-protocol CT, MRI, MRCP, PET-CT, or receptor-imaging studies in original DICOM format;
- endoscopic ultrasound and ERCP reports;
- pathology reports, glass slides, paraffin blocks, and molecular testing results;
- tumor markers such as CA 19-9 and relevant hormone test results;
- operative notes and discharge summaries from previous procedures;
- chemotherapy and radiotherapy records, including doses and response;
- recent blood tests, liver and kidney function, and nutritional assessment;
- a complete medication list; and
- a clear list of questions about diagnosis, resectability, and treatment sequence.
Original imaging is essential because written reports alone may not provide enough detail to assess the relationship between a pancreatic tumor and major blood vessels.
Planning an International Consultation
Appointments with senior specialists may be limited. Before traveling, patients should confirm whether imaging and pathology can be reviewed, whether an in-person examination is required, and which tests may need to be repeated in Beijing.
Remote medical-record review is subject to physician authorization. It may help determine whether a surgical or multidisciplinary consultation is appropriate, but final treatment recommendations generally require complete imaging, pathology, and clinical assessment.
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 medical records, imaging, and pathology materials; identifying an appropriate specialist; requesting appointment availability; arranging interpretation; and planning medical travel in China.
Access to Professor Zhao, remote review, surgery, clinical trials, or any particular treatment is subject to the doctor’s and hospital’s approval. CMCS does not guarantee appointments, treatment eligibility, resectability, or clinical outcomes.
For assistance, contact CMCS:
- Email: contract@medicalsh.com
- WhatsApp: Contact us on WhatsApp
- Website: www.medicalsh.com
Important Note
Doctor titles, clinical roles, research activities, treatment availability, and appointment arrangements may change. Patients should confirm current information before travel. This profile is based on publicly available hospital and academic sources and is provided for general information only. It is not individual medical advice and does not replace assessment by a qualified pancreatic specialist.
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