Medical Library | Shanghai Oncology and Innovative Treatment Series
Tongji University-affiliated Shanghai Oriental Hospital is developing a strong clinical research profile in precision lung cancer treatment, antibody-drug conjugates, immunotherapy, gastrointestinal oncology, and next-generation cell therapy. Its programs combine large clinical trials with biomarker-driven treatment and early translational development.
This Medical Library review examines two representative programs based on the 2025–2026 information provided: Professor Zhou Caicun's lung cancer research program and Professor Li Jin's gastrointestinal oncology and new-drug clinical development program. It also explains how CMCS can help international patients organize medical records and communicate with specialists in Shanghai.
1. Lung Cancer Oncology: Three Parallel Lines of Phase III Innovation
Lead: Professor Zhou Caicun
Focus: EGFR-mutated NSCLC, including EGFR exon 20 insertion, ADC plus immunotherapy, chemotherapy-sparing strategies, and minimal residual disease (MRD).
Professor Zhou Caicun's program is described as one of China's busiest principal-investigator platforms for registration-grade Phase III lung cancer research. Its 2025–2026 work covers three connected directions: highly specific EGFR-targeted treatment, ADC and immunotherapy combinations, and treatment strategies designed to reduce reliance on conventional chemotherapy.
Patients looking for broader background may also read our Lung Cancer Precision Treatment in Shanghai guide and the Lung Cancer and Advanced Oncology Treatment in Shanghai Medical Library article.
Key 2025–2026 milestones
- WU-KONG28: The Phase III study of sunvozertinib monotherapy as first-line treatment for EGFR exon 20 insertion-positive NSCLC was published in The New England Journal of Medicine in May 2026 and presented as an ASCO late-breaking abstract. It was described as the first international multicenter randomized trial to validate an oral targeted monotherapy in this setting.
- OptiTROP-Lung05: The Phase III study, published in The Lancet in May 2026, reported that a TROP2-directed ADC plus pembrolizumab was superior to pembrolizumab alone as first-line treatment in the studied population.
- HARMONi-2: Interim overall-survival results were reported as positive in September 2026, adding a further data point to the program's immunotherapy development portfolio.
The significance of this program is not only the number of studies. It is the simultaneous movement of three different strategies toward high-level evidence: precision treatment for a difficult EGFR subtype, ADC-based immune combination therapy, and outcomes research designed to clarify whether chemotherapy can be reduced or avoided in selected patients.
What patients should ask about EGFR exon 20 insertion treatment
EGFR exon 20 insertion is not one uniform mutation. Different insertion variants may have different levels of sensitivity to targeted drugs, and testing methods can affect whether a mutation is detected. Patients should ask which exact variant was identified, whether the test was performed by a validated laboratory, whether the proposed drug is approved for that alteration and treatment line, and whether combination chemotherapy offers an additional benefit.
For ADC plus immunotherapy, the consultation should cover the target expression and eligibility requirements, expected benefit compared with single-agent immunotherapy, interstitial lung disease risk, ocular or neurologic toxicity where relevant, and the monitoring plan.
MRD research may eventually help guide treatment intensity after surgery or systemic therapy. At present, an MRD result should be interpreted according to the assay, disease setting, validation data, and whether it changes a recommended treatment decision.
Team profile: A high-output lung cancer clinical research platform advancing EGFR precision therapy, ADC–immunotherapy combinations, and chemotherapy-sparing strategies in parallel.
2. Gastrointestinal Oncology and New-Drug Clinical Development: HER2-Positive Colorectal Cancer and Universal CAR-NK
Lead: Professor Li Jin, also President of Gaobo Oncology Hospital
Focus: Gastrointestinal cancers, HER2-directed ADCs, and universal CAR-NK therapy.
Professor Li Jin's program combines gastrointestinal oncology with clinical development of new medicines and cellular therapies. The two major directions provided for 2025–2026 are HER2-positive colorectal cancer and a non-viral, non-gene-edited universal CAR-NK platform.
Key 2025–2026 milestones
- HER2-positive colorectal cancer: RuiKang trastuzumab, the HER2-directed medicine named in the source material, was approved in China in August 2026. It was described as China's first anti-HER2 medicine for colorectal cancer. The HORIZON-CRC01 study was reported as the first global Phase III study in HER2-positive colorectal cancer.
- Universal CAR-NK: The program led the first domestic investigator-initiated trial of IBR854, described as a universal CAR-NK product made without viral vectors and without gene editing.
HER2-positive colorectal cancer is a molecularly defined subgroup, so accurate pathology and biomarker testing are essential before considering a HER2-directed treatment. Patients should confirm whether HER2 status was assessed by validated immunohistochemistry, in-situ hybridization, sequencing, or a combination of methods, and whether the treatment is approved for the relevant disease stage and previous-treatment setting.
Our related Gastric and Colorectal Cancer Treatment in Shanghai Medical Library guide provides broader context for multidisciplinary gastrointestinal cancer care.
Why universal CAR-NK is being studied
CAR-NK therapy uses engineered natural killer cells to recognize a tumor-associated target. A universal or off-the-shelf product aims to reduce the time and manufacturing complexity associated with preparing an individualized cell product for each patient.
A non-viral, non-gene-edited manufacturing approach may also have potential advantages in production and regulatory development, but those advantages must be demonstrated through clinical evidence. Patients considering an early CAR-NK study should ask about target expression, dose escalation, manufacturing release criteria, expected persistence, cytokine-release syndrome, neurotoxicity, infection risk, and what treatment options remain if the therapy does not work.
For a related cellular-therapy perspective, patients may also read our Ruijin Hospital review of CAR-NK and bispecific antibody programs.
Team profile: A gastrointestinal oncology and new-drug development program combining biomarker-driven antibody therapy with an early universal CAR-NK platform.
3. How to Interpret These Innovation Programs
The two Oriental Hospital programs address different but complementary questions:
- Precision lung cancer: Can a defined EGFR-targeted therapy improve first-line treatment for exon 20 insertion-positive NSCLC?
- ADC and immunotherapy: Can a TROP2-directed ADC combined with immune checkpoint blockade outperform single-agent immunotherapy?
- MRD and treatment intensity: Can molecular monitoring help identify patients who need more treatment or may safely avoid unnecessary therapy?
- HER2-positive colorectal cancer: Can a biomarker-selected group benefit from a dedicated HER2-directed treatment?
- Universal CAR-NK: Can an off-the-shelf, non-viral cellular product make cell therapy faster and more scalable?
Patients should distinguish among a published randomized trial, interim survival data, a regulatory approval, an investigator-initiated trial, and routine clinical availability. Each has a different level of evidence and a different set of eligibility requirements.
4. How CMCS Helps International Patients Discuss Innovative Treatment with Specialists
For an international patient considering lung cancer, colorectal cancer, or cellular therapy in Shanghai, the first step is to match the clinical question with the right specialist team. 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 pathology reports, immunohistochemistry, molecular testing, HER2 or PD-L1 results, imaging, operative notes, previous treatment records, medication history, treatment response, laboratory results, and current symptoms. For overseas patients, these records can be arranged into a concise English medical summary for the specialist.
CMCS can help patients prepare focused questions such as:
- What exact mutation, biomarker, or target expression result makes this treatment relevant?
- Is the proposed therapy approved for this diagnosis, stage, and treatment line, or is it available only through a clinical trial?
- For EGFR exon 20 insertion, which variant was detected and what evidence supports the recommended drug?
- For a TROP2 ADC or HER2-directed medicine, what are the expected benefits and the main organ-specific risks?
- Could MRD testing change the treatment plan, or is it currently investigational?
- For CAR-NK, how is the product manufactured, what are the early-study goals, and what safety monitoring is required?
- What alternatives have stronger evidence or a better balance of benefit and risk?
During the consultation, CMCS can assist with appointment coordination, medical interpretation, communication between the patient and the care team, and clarification of the doctor's recommendations. Afterward, a case manager can help organize the proposed next steps, identify additional tests or records, clarify the treatment and follow-up schedule, and coordinate further communication with the hospital.
The final treatment decision must be made by the patient and the treating medical team. CMCS does not independently select a medicine, cellular therapy, or clinical trial. Its role is to help the patient bring complete information to the right specialist and ensure that the indication, evidence, risks, alternatives, access, and monitoring plan are discussed clearly.
To learn more about oncology consultations and treatment coordination in Shanghai, contact CMCS:
Email: contract@medicalsh.com
WhatsApp: Contact CMCS on WhatsApp
Website: medicalsh.com
Conclusion
The innovation programs at Tongji University-affiliated Shanghai Oriental Hospital show how Shanghai's oncology research is expanding across precision lung cancer treatment, ADC and immunotherapy combinations, biomarker-selected colorectal cancer therapy, and scalable cell therapy. The common theme is the movement from broad disease labels toward treatment decisions based on molecular features, clinical evidence, and carefully defined patient populations.
For patients, the goal is not to pursue every new medicine or cell therapy, but to determine which evidence-based option fits the diagnosis, biomarker profile, stage, previous treatment, health status, and personal goals. 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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