Oncology

Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Xiamen University Department of Oncology I. Basic Overview of the Department and Qualifications and Honors The Department of Oncology of Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Xiamen University is one of the earliest-established oncology specialties in Xiamen. After years of development, it has become a demonstration institution for standardized cancer diagnosis and treatment in Fujian Province, integrating high-level clinical care, innovative scientific research, and medical education. The department is a National Drug Clinical Trial Base (Oncology), undertaking clinical research on multiple innovative drugs and treatment regimens. It has successively been recognized as the first group of Fujian Provincial Demonstration Wards for Standardized Cancer Pain Treatment; the first group of National Demonstration Wards for Standardized CINV Management; a member institution of the Pan-Central-South China Oncology Specialty Alliance; a co-construction ward of the CACA Integrated Pharmacy + Clinical Whole-Course Management Special Escort Project; a Fujian Provincial Demonstration Ward for Standardized Treatment of Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting; a member institution of the Fujian Lung Cancer Construction Center (preparatory); a member institution of the Fujian Small Cell Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Alliance; a member institution of the Fujian Lung Cancer Multidisciplinary Diagnosis and Treatment Alliance; a council member institution of the Fujian Oncology Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Diagnosis and Treatment Alliance; and the Fujian Precision Whole-Course Management Optimization Project for Oncology Nutrition. It has established a regional benchmark in gastrointestinal tumors, thoracic tumors, cancer symptom control and supportive care, and comprehensive cancer management. It was awarded the title of Primary-Level Training Base for the Promotion of Appropriate Technologies for Cancer Immunodiagnosis and Treatment by the National Health Commission. It is a member institution of the Chinese Collaborative Group for Clinical and Translational Research in Gastrointestinal Cancer and continues to advance precision treatment for gastrointestinal tumors. In 2017, it was among the first in the region to implement the multidisciplinary team (MDT) consultation model. In 2024, the department formally joined the oncology specialty medical consortiums of Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center and Ruijin Hospital of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. It maintains close academic exchanges and joint research relationships with leading oncology centers in Europe and the United States, including Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, MD Anderson Cancer Center, the German Cancer Research Center, and the European Pancreatic Cancer Center, as well as leading domestic oncology centers including Peking University Cancer Center, Fudan University Cancer Center, and Tianjin Cancer Hospital. Leveraging Xiamen University’s comprehensive disciplinary strengths, it has established an in-depth interdisciplinary collaboration network with the School of Medicine, Anti-Cancer Research Center, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, and School of Information of Xiamen University, achieving strong collaboration in basic oncology research, bioinformatics analysis, translational medicine, and other fields. As a designated institution of the Xiamen Immunotherapy Quality Control Center, the department has formulated standardized criteria for cancer immunotherapy in Xiamen. Its core staff have received authoritative recognition such as CACA Guideline-Certified Expert, forming a third-party endorsement system jointly supported by national-level qualification platforms, industry-standard development, and authoritative academic appointments. The department currently operates 3 wards. Oncology Ward 1 and Ward 2 are located on the 3rd floor of Building 2, while Oncology Ward 3 (day-treatment ward) is located on the 5th floor of Building 2. There are 126 open beds, an annual outpatient volume of 24,000 visits, and more than 8,000 inpatient admissions annually. Its service coverage extends across southwestern Fujian and surrounding provinces. II. Core Scope of Diagnosis and Treatment The department provides all diagnostic and treatment services required of the oncology department of a Grade III, Class A general hospital, mainly covering the following disease areas: 1. Precision diagnosis and treatment, comprehensive treatment, and whole-course management of thoracic malignancies, including lung cancer, esophageal cancer, and thymoma; 2. Individualized precision treatment and whole-course management of malignant tumors of the digestive system, including gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, and bile duct cancer; 3. Chemotherapy, targeted therapy, endocrine therapy, and immunotherapy for breast cancer, as well as standardized diagnosis and treatment of lymphoma; 4. Comprehensive medical treatment of gynecologic malignancies, including ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, and endometrial cancer, and genitourinary malignancies, including renal cancer, bladder cancer, and prostate cancer; 5. Systemic drug treatment of head and neck malignancies, including nasopharyngeal cancer, oral cancer, and laryngeal cancer; 6. Molecular pathology-guided targeted and immunotherapy for rare and refractory tumors; 7. Individualized precision treatment for older patients with cancer; 8. Standardized management and nutritional support for cancer-related complications, such as cancer pain, bone marrow suppression, nausea, and vomiting. III. Specialized Subdisciplines and Core Technical Strengths (1) Thoracic Oncology Subspecialty As a member institution of the Small Cell Lung Cancer Professional Committee of the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association and a member department of the Fujian Lung Cancer Construction Center, the subspecialty provides precision diagnosis and treatment and individualized comprehensive treatment for thoracic malignancies such as lung cancer, esophageal cancer, and thymoma, including chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. It provides patients with multidisciplinary/whole-disease-course management plans covering diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. (2) Digestive System Oncology Subspecialty The subspecialty is a member institution of the Chinese Collaborative Group for Clinical and Translational Research in Gastrointestinal Cancer, a member institution of the Gastric Cancer Professional Committee of the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association, an executive member institution of the Gastric Cancer Prevention and Treatment Professional Committee of the Beijing Cancer Prevention and Treatment Society, and a member institution of the Colorectal Cancer Professional Committee of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association; it is also the deputy leader institution of the Internal Medicine Group of the Colorectal Cancer Professional Committee of the Fujian Anti-Cancer Association. For malignant tumors of the digestive system, including gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, and bile duct cancer, it provides individualized precision treatment based on molecular pathology testing results and continuously advances precision diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal tumors. (3) Breast and Lymphoma Subspecialty The subspecialty routinely provides all-dimensional medical treatment for breast cancer, including chemotherapy, targeted therapy, endocrine therapy, and immunotherapy, while strictly following diagnostic and treatment standards to provide stratified, standardized diagnosis and treatment of lymphoma. (4) Gynecologic and Genitourinary Oncology Subspecialty For gynecologic malignancies such as ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, and endometrial cancer, and genitourinary malignancies such as renal cancer, bladder cancer, and prostate cancer, the subspecialty develops individualized comprehensive medical treatment plans that balance treatment efficacy and patients’ quality of life. (5) Head and Neck Oncology Subspecialty The subspecialty provides systemic drug treatment for head and neck malignancies such as nasopharyngeal cancer, oral cancer, and laryngeal cancer, and collaborates with related disciplines to provide patients with comprehensive diagnostic and treatment support. (6) Rare/Refractory Tumors and Cancer Supportive Care Subspecialty As a deputy chair-member institution of the Supportive Cancer Care Professional Committee of the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association and an executive member institution of the Committee on Rare Mutations and Rare Tumors of the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association, the subspecialty matches targeted and immunotherapy regimens for rare and refractory tumors based on molecular pathology testing results. It has also established standardized assessment, prevention, and management procedures for cancer pain and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV), provides standardized management of cancer-related complications and nutritional support, and effectively improves patients’ quality of life. (7) Geriatric Oncology Subspecialty As a deputy chair-member institution of the Geriatric Oncology Professional Committee of the Fujian Anti-Cancer Association, the subspecialty provides individualized treatment for older patients with cancer, achieving multidimensional benefits that take into account cancer survival, quality-of-life improvement, and treatment safety. Core Technical Strengths 1. Cutting-edge clinical research technology for antineoplastic drugs: As a National Drug Clinical Trial Base (Oncology), the department undertakes multiple global and national multicenter investigator-initiated (IST) and industry-initiated (ITT) clinical studies covering cutting-edge treatment fields such as novel targeted drugs, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and antibody-drug conjugates, providing eligible patients with access to internationally advanced treatment regimens. 2. Appropriate technologies for cancer immunotherapy: As a primary-level training base for the promotion of appropriate technologies for cancer immunodiagnosis and treatment awarded by the National Health Commission, the department conducts standardized clinical applications of cancer immunotherapy and has established a comprehensive system for preventing and managing immune-related adverse events. 3. Standardized symptom-management technology: The department has accumulated extensive experience in standardized cancer pain treatment and standardized CINV management, established a standardized full-process management pathway, and received provincial- and national-level demonstration-ward certification for this work. 4. Precision testing and local interventional technology: The department widely applies next-generation sequencing (NGS) and liquid biopsy for noninvasive dynamic monitoring and has established organoid drug-sensitivity screening platforms derived from multiple tumor types. It performs mature minimally invasive interventional procedures, has developed a comprehensive treatment model combining local intervention with systemic treatment, and applies fecal microbiota transplantation to regulate the intestinal microecology and enhance response to immunotherapy. IV. Multidisciplinary MDT Comprehensive Diagnosis and Treatment and Whole-Course Management The department has established a high-quality multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment (MDT) system and routinely conducts MDT discussions covering thoracic tumors, digestive tumors, breast tumors, head and neck tumors, gynecologic tumors, and genitourinary tumors. Experts from relevant departments, including surgery, radiation oncology, pathology, and radiology, jointly formulate optimal individualized diagnostic and treatment plans for patients. As a member institution of the Integrated Oncology Branch of the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association, the department can rely on international and domestic medical consortium collaboration networks for difficult and complex cases and invite experts from leading oncology centers in China and abroad to conduct remote consultations, providing diagnostic and treatment recommendations that combine an international perspective with the individual patient’s circumstances. The department provides patients with whole-disease-course services from diagnosis and treatment through follow-up and complication management. On the basis of standardized antineoplastic treatment, it also provides standardized interventions for cancer-related complications such as cancer pain, nausea and vomiting, and bone marrow suppression, together with nutritional support, to improve patients’ treatment experience and quality of life. Relying on the day-treatment ward, the department has further refined pre-treatment assessment, day treatment, and post-treatment follow-up procedures. It has established a humanistic care team to provide psychological counseling and health education, and integrates rehabilitation guidance, pain management, nutritional support, and palliative and comfort-care principles into whole-course management, continuously improving patients’ healthcare experience. V. Talent Team and Expert Strength The department has a highly educated, highly credentialed, and internationalized medical team. All members graduated from leading medical schools internationally or in China. The team has a well-structured career ladder, including both senior experts with decades of clinical experience and young and middle-aged professionals with international perspectives and innovative thinking. Among the current physicians, 43% hold senior professional titles and as many as 95% hold doctoral or master’s degrees; there are 4 master’s supervisors, and 22% of physicians have undertaken long-term advanced training or postdoctoral research at renowned oncology centers in the United States or Europe. The current nursing team consists of 41 members, including 10 with senior professional titles and 21 with intermediate professional titles. Specialized nursing positions include oncology specialty nurses, pain specialty nurses, and intravenous therapy specialty nurses. Department Director Xiao Li leads the department’s core staff in intensive work in oncology diagnosis, treatment, and academic research. The department places great importance on talent development, regularly selecting core staff for exchange and study at leading oncology centers in China and abroad, encouraging team members to participate in multicenter collaborative research, and continuously improving the team’s clinical and academic capabilities. VI. Coordinated Development of Medical Care, Education, and Research (1) Medical Services The department strictly follows oncology diagnosis and treatment standards in providing various types of medical antineoplastic treatment. Relying on 3 wards, including a day-treatment ward, it offers patients diversified healthcare options such as inpatient and day treatment, comprehensively covering the medical treatment needs of common malignant tumors and rare refractory tumors, as well as standardized management and nutritional support services for cancer-related complications. As a regional demonstration institution for standardized cancer diagnosis and treatment, the department regularly conducts training and academic lectures on appropriate cancer immunotherapy technologies, promoting the widespread application of standardized oncology diagnosis and treatment technologies in primary hospitals. (2) Teaching and Training The department undertakes oncology-related teaching for Xiamen University School of Medicine, Fujian Medical University, Xiamen Medical College, and other institutions, provides graduate training and supervision for physicians receiving further training, and supplies professional personnel for regional oncology development. As the National Health Commission’s Primary-Level Training Base for the Promotion of Appropriate Technologies for Cancer Immunodiagnosis and Treatment, the department regularly provides primary healthcare institutions with specialized training in standardized oncology diagnosis and treatment, appropriate immunotherapy technologies, and related subjects, improving the overall regional standardization and consistency of oncology care. In terms of teaching scale, the department undertakes teaching tasks for 3 medical schools, currently has 4 master’s supervisors, continuously trains graduate students and physicians receiving further training, and expands its regional educational reach through primary-level special training. (3) Scientific Research and Innovation Relying on the National Drug Clinical Trial Base platform, the department continuously conducts clinical research on innovative antineoplastic drugs and treatment regimens. Multiple research results have been selected for oral or poster presentations at the annual meetings of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), and the World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC), and some results have been published in high-level SCI journals in JCR Q1/Q2. Department Director Xiao Li and other core staff have repeatedly been invited to participate in drafting diagnosis and treatment guidelines and expert consensus documents for authoritative organizations such as the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO) and the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association (CACA). To date, they have authored or participated in nearly 20 important national guidelines/consensus documents. In recent years, department members have published multiple JCR Q1 and Q2 SCI papers as first or corresponding authors, and have led or participated in multiple National Natural Science Foundation of China projects, key and general projects of the Fujian Provincial Natural Science Foundation, and Xiamen municipal bureau-level research projects. Relying on Xiamen University’s multidisciplinary interdisciplinary collaboration network, the department continues to advance basic oncology research, bioinformatics analysis, and translational medicine research, fostering an academic environment that values both clinical and translational research. Core staff have led or participated in more than 30 projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Fujian Provincial Natural Science Foundation, and Xiamen municipal bureau-level research programs, including 2 National Natural Science Foundation of China projects. Their high-quality JCR Q1 SCI publications as first or corresponding authors have accumulated a total impact factor exceeding 200. VII. Summary of the Department’s Core Advantages 1. A comprehensive qualification and platform system: The department is a demonstration institution for standardized cancer diagnosis and treatment in Fujian Province. It possesses multiple national- and provincial-level qualification platforms, including the National Drug Clinical Trial Base (Oncology), Fujian’s first group of Demonstration Wards for Standardized Cancer Pain Treatment, the National Demonstration Ward for Standardized CINV Management, the National Health Commission’s Primary-Level Training Base for the Promotion of Appropriate Technologies for Cancer Immunodiagnosis and Treatment, the CACA Integrated Pharmacy + Clinical Whole-Course Management Special Escort Project co-construction ward, and the Fujian Provincial Demonstration Ward for Standardized Treatment of Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting. It is a member institution of the Fujian Lung Cancer Construction Center (preparatory), the Fujian Small Cell Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Alliance, and the Fujian Lung Cancer Multidisciplinary Diagnosis and Treatment Alliance; a council member institution of the Fujian Oncology Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Diagnosis and Treatment Alliance; and a member institution of the Chinese Collaborative Group for Clinical and Translational Research in Gastrointestinal Cancer and the Pan-Central-South China Oncology Specialty Alliance. It has joined leading domestic oncology specialty medical consortiums, providing solid platform support for clinical care and research innovation. As a designated institution of the Xiamen Immunotherapy Quality Control Center, it also participates in establishing regional standardized criteria for cancer immunotherapy, further strengthening authoritative third-party endorsement. 2. Comprehensive and standardized diagnostic and treatment coverage: The department’s subspecialties cover multiple common malignant tumors, including thoracic, digestive, breast, lymphoma, gynecologic, genitourinary, and head and neck tumors. It also provides precision diagnosis and treatment for rare refractory tumors and geriatric oncology, as well as cancer supportive care. It can provide all diagnostic and treatment services required of the oncology department of a Grade III, Class A general hospital and has established a regional benchmark in symptom management and supportive care for cancer pain, CINV, bone marrow suppression, and other conditions. NGS, liquid biopsy, organoid drug-sensitivity screening, and minimally invasive interventional techniques are incorporated into its precision diagnosis and treatment system. 3. Extensive collaborative network resources: The department has established long-term academic exchange and joint research relationships with leading oncology centers in Europe, the United States, and China. Leveraging Xiamen University’s comprehensive disciplinary strengths, it has built an interdisciplinary collaboration network across multiple schools, routinely conducts multidisciplinary MDT care, and enables difficult cases to receive remote consultation through international medical consortiums, providing patients with high-quality diagnostic and treatment resources. 4. Outstanding academic and research strength: Core staff have participated in drafting nearly 20 national oncology diagnosis and treatment guidelines/consensus documents, undertaken multiple multicenter clinical studies of cutting-edge antineoplastic drugs, and repeatedly presented research findings at top international oncology conferences and published them in high-level academic journals, demonstrating strong academic influence. In the past 5 years, more than 30 research projects have been initiated, including 2 National Natural Science Foundation of China projects. High-quality JCR Q1 SCI papers published as first or corresponding author have accumulated a total impact factor exceeding 200. 5. A well-structured team with an international perspective: The department has a high proportion of highly educated and highly credentialed staff. Nearly one quarter of its physicians have experience studying at leading overseas oncology centers. It has a well-balanced talent structure and established regular mechanisms for talent development and exchange, providing a talent base for the continued development of the discipline. VIII. Department Vision The department will continue to uphold a patient-centered service philosophy, build on the foundation of standardized cancer diagnosis and treatment, fully leverage the platform advantages of international collaboration and university-hospital interdisciplinary integration, continuously improve its capabilities in precision oncology, clinical research, and medical education, and steadily promote the standardized dissemination and innovative development of oncology diagnosis and treatment technologies. It will provide regional cancer patients with higher-quality, more standardized, and more compassionate whole-disease-course diagnostic and treatment services, help improve the overall level of regional cancer prevention and treatment and translational cancer research, and contribute to conquering cancer and safeguarding the health of the people.