Medical Library | Shanghai Oncology and Innovative Treatment Series
Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center is one of Shanghai's leading specialized cancer centers, with expertise spanning breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, and radiation oncology. In recent years, its clinical teams have advanced research in precision classification, less-invasive and de-escalated surgery, artificial intelligence in radiotherapy, organ preservation, multidisciplinary treatment of recurrent disease, and radioligand therapy.
This Medical Library review examines six representative teams and technology directions based on the 2025–2026 information provided. It also explains how international patients can prepare for a specialist consultation and discuss whether an innovative treatment is appropriate for their specific diagnosis. For related background, see our guide to breast cancer treatment in Shanghai.
1. Six Teams and Their Main Areas of Innovation
1. Breast Surgery: Precision Classification and Immunotherapy Resistance in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Lead: Professor Shao Zhimin, with Jiang Yizhou as a key team member
Focus: Precision subtyping of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and mechanisms of resistance to immunotherapy.
According to the information provided, the CITRINE Phase III study was published in The BMJ in December 2025. In patients with high-risk early-stage TNBC, adding carboplatin was associated with a three-year disease-free survival rate of 92.3%, compared with 85.8% in the control group, and a reported 36% reduction in recurrence risk. The central clinical question is how to identify patients at higher risk of relapse at an early stage and use treatment intensification to reduce that risk.
The team's translational work also examines how intratumoral sensory nerves and the CGRP pathway may influence sensitivity to immunotherapy. Findings published in Cell in February 2026 suggest that TNBC research is expanding beyond conventional molecular classification and drug combinations toward the interaction between the nervous system and the immune microenvironment.
Why it matters: The team combines a TNBC classification framework, Phase III evidence for intensified chemotherapy, and early translational work on neuro-immune biology.
2. Pancreatic Surgery and the Pancreatic Cancer Center: Surgery, Single-Cell Platforms, and PROTAC Research
Lead: Professor Yu Xianjun, with Shi Si as a key team member
Focus: Pancreatic cancer surgery, metabolic and epigenetic mechanisms, and organoid research.
Pancreatic cancer is difficult to detect early and is characterized by substantial biological heterogeneity and complex treatment decisions. The information provided states that the ctPANDA platform opened in June 2026 and was described as the first pancreatic cancer prognosis platform with cell-type resolution. Platforms of this kind can help researchers study differences in prognosis at the level of cellular composition and molecular features, supporting future risk stratification and treatment research.
In translational research, progress involving the H3K18la–ACAT2 mechanism and PROTAC AP1 was reported in June 2025. PROTAC is a drug-development strategy designed to promote the targeted degradation of specific proteins. Its clinical relevance must still be assessed according to the development stage and formally published evidence of the individual program. Patients and families may also find our related guide to gastrointestinal surgery in Shanghai useful when preparing questions about complex abdominal cancers.
Why it matters: The program connects high-volume pancreatic surgery with single-cell data, organoid models, and new approaches to targeted drug development.
3. Thoracic Surgery: De-escalating Surgery for Early Lung Cancer and Ground-Glass Opacities
Lead: Professor Chen Haiquan
Focus: Early-stage lung cancer, ground-glass opacities (GGOs), and selective lymph-node dissection.
For some patients with early-stage lung adenocarcinoma containing a predominant ground-glass component, the extent of surgery and the need for mediastinal lymph-node dissection require careful assessment. According to the information provided, the ECTOP-1009 Phase III study was published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology in July 2025. It suggested that selected patients with cT1N0, GGO-predominant lung adenocarcinoma may be able to avoid mediastinal lymph-node dissection after appropriate evaluation.
ECTOP-1021 was described as the first prospective, multicenter study focused on multiple GGOs. This direction reflects a de-escalation approach in early lung cancer: when oncologically safe, avoid unnecessary surgical trauma while preserving adequate cancer control and staging accuracy. Patients seeking a second opinion may also review our guide to choosing a lung cancer specialist in Shanghai or the profile of Professor Chen Haiquan's early-stage lung cancer surgery program.
Why it matters: The team is helping move early lung cancer surgery from a default of more extensive treatment toward risk-adapted, selective intervention.
4. Radiation Oncology: Engineering AI for Radiotherapy and Preserving Organ Function
Lead: Professor Zhang Zhen, with Hu Weigang and Qu Xiaomin as key team members
Focus: AI-assisted radiotherapy planning, perioperative treatment for gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma, and laryngeal preservation.
Progress in radiation oncology involves both improving planning and delivery efficiency and achieving a better balance between tumor control and protection of normal tissue. The provided information reports that AI-based automated radiotherapy planning accelerated the planning workflow by approximately 40% in a multicenter study. VQ-DoseNet dose prediction research was published in Medical Image Analysis in July 2026, illustrating the movement of artificial intelligence from proof of concept toward practical radiotherapy engineering.
In organ preservation, the provided data report a three-month laryngeal preservation rate of 88.9% with immunotherapy combined with induction chemotherapy. For selected patients, the goal of treatment is not only tumor control, but also preservation of speech and swallowing. The appropriate strategy still depends on tumor location, stage, imaging, pathology, and overall health, and should be assessed by a multidisciplinary team.
Why it matters: The program advances both standardized, intelligent radiotherapy planning and the preservation of critical functions such as voice and swallowing.
5. Colorectal Comprehensive Treatment: Reassessing Curative Surgery after Recurrence
Lead: Professor Peng Junjie
Focus: Postoperative recurrence of colorectal cancer and multidisciplinary treatment.
Patients with recurrent colorectal cancer may face difficult anatomical locations, previous surgery and systemic therapy, and uncertainty about whether another curative-intent resection is possible. According to the information provided, the FIND Phase III study was published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology in August 2026 and showed that the opportunity for curative resection in patients with postoperative recurrence could be doubled.
The clinical importance of this direction is its focus on a recurrent-disease population for which high-level randomized evidence has historically been limited. A multidisciplinary team generally needs to review imaging, recurrence sites, previous surgery and medication, general health, and the sequence of surgery, radiotherapy, and systemic treatment.
Why it matters: The team focuses on a difficult patient population and emphasizes multidisciplinary reassessment of whether curative-intent treatment remains possible.
6. Nuclear Medicine: Bringing Prostate Cancer Radioligand Therapy into Clinical Practice
Lead: Professor Song Shaoli
Focus: Radioligand therapy for advanced prostate cancer.
Radioligand therapy uses a targeting ligand to recognize a tumor-associated marker and deliver a radioactive payload close to cancer cells. It is an important precision nuclear medicine approach for selected patients with advanced prostate cancer. The information provided states that the program was introduced in Shanghai in February 2026 and that its first administration was completed.
Patients considering this approach generally require assessment of disease stage, prior androgen-deprivation therapy and chemotherapy, target-expression testing, bone-marrow and kidney function, imaging, and previous radiation treatment. Radioligand therapy is not appropriate for every patient with prostate cancer and should be delivered in a center with the required nuclear medicine, radiation safety, and toxicity-management capabilities. More background is available in our guide to urologic cancers and conditions treated in Shanghai.
Why it matters: The program focuses on moving targeted radionuclide therapy from technology introduction toward structured clinical delivery.
2. How Patients Should Interpret These Innovations
These six directions do not mean that a newer technology is automatically better than standard treatment. Each addresses a different clinical problem:
- TNBC research aims to identify high-risk patients and reduce early recurrence.
- Pancreatic cancer platforms aim to improve prognostic stratification and drug-development precision.
- Early lung cancer research aims to avoid excessive surgery while maintaining adequate cancer control.
- AI radiotherapy research aims to improve planning efficiency, quality, and reproducibility.
- Recurrent colorectal cancer research aims to reassess curative-intent surgery and multidisciplinary treatment.
- Prostate cancer radioligand therapy aims to deliver targeted radionuclide treatment to appropriately selected patients.
When reading medical news or research reports, patients should distinguish between basic research, preclinical work, early clinical trials, randomized controlled trials, regulatory approval, and routine clinical availability. An encouraging research result does not automatically mean that a treatment is suitable for every patient.
3. How CMCS Helps International Patients Confirm an Appropriate Innovative Treatment
For an international patient seeking oncology care in Shanghai, the most important question is not simply which treatment is the newest. It is which treatment best matches the patient's diagnosis, stage, molecular profile, previous treatment, overall health, and goals. China Medical Concierge Shanghai (CMCS) is a health management and medical coordination service that helps patients connect with specialist doctors and hospital resources in Shanghai. CMCS is not a hospital and does not independently diagnose or prescribe treatment.
Before a consultation, CMCS can help organize and summarize pathology reports, immunohistochemistry, genetic testing, imaging, operative notes, previous medications, treatment responses, laboratory results, and current symptoms. For overseas patients, the information can also be arranged into a concise English medical summary for the specialist, reducing the risk of important details being lost across languages.
CMCS can help patients prepare focused questions, including:
- Is the proposed innovative medicine or therapy approved for this diagnosis and treatment line?
- Do the patient's pathology, molecular markers, or target-expression results support its use?
- Is the proposed approach a standard treatment, a clinical-trial option, an off-label use, or still an investigational therapy?
- What benefit can reasonably be expected, and how strong is the supporting evidence?
- What are the main risks, contraindications, drug interactions, and monitoring requirements?
- Are there alternatives with stronger evidence, lower risk, or a better fit for the patient's health and treatment goals?
During the consultation, CMCS can assist with specialist appointment coordination, medical interpretation, communication between the patient and the care team, and clarification of the doctor's recommendations. After the consultation, the case manager can help the patient organize the proposed next steps, identify additional tests or documents, understand the treatment and follow-up schedule, and coordinate further communication with the hospital or physician.
The final treatment decision must be made by the patient and the treating medical team. CMCS does not independently select or prescribe an innovative medicine. Its role is to help the patient bring complete information to the right specialist and ensure that indication, evidence, risks, alternatives, access, and monitoring are discussed before treatment begins.
To learn more about oncology consultations and innovative treatment coordination in Shanghai, contact CMCS:
Email: contract@medicalsh.com
WhatsApp: Contact CMCS on WhatsApp
Website: medicalsh.com
Conclusion
The teams reviewed at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center are advancing cancer care through precision classification, surgical de-escalation, AI radiotherapy, multidisciplinary treatment of recurrent disease, organ preservation, and nuclear medicine. For patients, the most useful goal is not to pursue every new technology, but to identify a treatment whose evidence and risk profile fit the individual's diagnosis and circumstances.
This article was prepared from the team and program information provided for editorial use. Research milestones, approval status, and clinical data should be confirmed through the hospital, research team, regulatory authorities, and formally published studies. This article is for medical education only and is not individualized medical advice.
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