Leading Expert Professor Fan Ruitai Provides Daily Consultations, Driving Advances in Oncology Care

On February 2, Professor Fan Ruitai, a standing committee member of the Chinese Society for Radiation Oncology of the Chinese Medical Association and the fifth-term chairman of the Henan Society for Radiation Oncology, joined the Lanzhou Heavy Ion Center of Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital in a regular resident mode. With his rich clinical experience and forward-looking vision for disciplinary development, this senior expert will inject core momentum into the high-quality advancement of the center's radiotherapy discipline and the leapfrog improvement of its clinical service standards. This also vividly reflects our hospital's new model of quality medical services—"localization of high-end medical resources and routine services by leading experts."

As a Second-Level Professor, Chief Physician, and Doctoral Supervisor, Professor Fan Ruitai boasts an impressive academic and clinical track record. He serves as the academic leader for both the National Key Clinical Specialty in Oncology designated by the Ministry of Health and the Key Oncology Discipline in Henan Province. Moreover, as a standing committee member of the Chinese Society for Radiation Oncology of the Chinese Medical Association, he guides technological direction at the national level. From designing individualized radiotherapy plans to conducting precise radiotherapy research for common cancers such as lung and breast cancer, he possesses not only a deep understanding of frontline clinical needs but also a clear grasp of the developmental logic of disciplinary advancement. This "versatile expertise" enables him to precisely align with the development needs of the Lanzhou Heavy Ion Center, serving as a "bridge" connecting advanced expertise with local practices.

During his regular residency at the center, Professor Fan Ruitai has been deeply involved in its clinical and teaching activities, dedicating himself to consultations, ward rounds, and lectures. Through these efforts, he has been transferring cutting-edge diagnostic concepts and technical skills directly to the center's team. During ward rounds, he has worked alongside the center's medical staff, providing specialized guidance for complex oncology cases. He meticulously analyzes patient imaging data, traces the progression of conditions, and collaborates with the team to dynamically optimize treatment strategies. While ensuring the precision of heavy-ion radiotherapy, he consistently emphasizes balancing treatment tolerance, employing an immersive teaching approach to simultaneously elevate the diagnostic thinking and practical skills of the center's medical team. This ensures that every cancer patient can access high-quality radiotherapy services at a level comparable to international standards, right at their doorstep.

To further align the center's radiotherapy practices with national guidelines, Professor Fan Ruitai conducted a specialized academic lecture during his residency. Titled "Key Updates in the Radiotherapy Section of the CSCO Guidelines for Small Cell Lung Cancer," he delved into the core rationale behind the guideline updates, optimization of radiotherapy indications, and key considerations in treatment selection, drawing on his extensive clinical experience and cutting-edge research. This provided the center's medical team with a highly practical and instructive academic session, empowering them to stay abreast of the latest industry standards and advancing clinical practices toward greater standardization and precision.

In recent years, Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital has achieved significant results in promoting the heavy-ion therapy alliance and the establishment of 50 expert workstations. As the only hospital in the world operating two heavy-ion therapy systems simultaneously, Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital remains committed to the continuous development and innovation of cancer treatment technologies. The Lanzhou Heavy Ion Center is the second domestically-developed heavy-ion clinical application center operated by Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital, with its system commencing clinical operations at the center on November 15, 2024. To date, the center has completed photon and heavy-ion treatments for over 400 patients, covering conditions such as lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, and glioblastoma.

Professor Fan Ruitai's regular residency at the hospital reflects another manifestation of the Lanzhou Heavy Ion Center's commitment to the philosophy of "gathering cutting-edge global technologies to benefit cancer patients worldwide." The center not only adopts an open and inclusive approach by actively introducing internationally leading heavy-ion therapy technologies, building bridges for cross-border academic exchanges, and engaging in deep technical dialogues and experience sharing with top experts from countries such as Japan and Germany but also embodies a pragmatic and dedicated spirit by vigorously introducing authoritative clinical expert resources from within China. Through regular ward rounds, personalized consultation services, and efforts to standardize clinical practices while enhancing the homogenization of diagnosis and treatment levels, the center continues to deepen its disciplinary development, bringing hope and light to cancer patients.

Professor Shen Wenjiang, Lifetime Honorary Professor of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Peking University Health Science Center

Professor Wang Junjie, President of the Lanzhou Heavy Ion Center of Gansu Provincial Wuwei Cancer Hospital and Chairman of the Oncology Radiotherapy Branch of the Chinese Medical Association

Professor Ma Lulin, Chief Physician and Professor in the Department of Urology at Peking University Third Hospital

Professor Xu Bo, Chief Physician in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Peking University Cancer Hospital

Professor Yasuo Yoshioka, renowned Japanese expert in brachytherapy and oncology from the Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research

Professor György Kovács, Honorary Retired Professor at the University of Lübeck (Germany) and Director of the Education Program at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Italy)

In the future, the Lanzhou Heavy Ion Center of Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital will continue to build high-level academic exchange and expert collaboration platforms, attracting top-tier medical resources from both domestic and international sources. By consistently enhancing its core diagnostic and treatment capabilities as well as service quality, the center aims to make advanced heavy-ion therapy technology accessible to more cancer patients, thereby injecting strong momentum into the development of a healthier Northwest China.