Zero Out-of-Pocket Carbon Ion Therapy for Seniors (≥80) with Solid Tumors – Recruitment

Zero Out-of-Pocket Carbon Ion Therapy for Seniors (≥80) with Solid Tumors – Recruitment

I. Research Background

As the aging population in China intensifies, the number of elderly cancer patients aged 80 and above is increasing year by year. These patients often present with underlying conditions such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, diabetes, and cardiopulmonary decline, leading to poor tolerance for surgery and chemotherapy, and limited options with conventional therapies. Carbon ion radiotherapy offers unique advantages including precise dose distribution, minimal damage to normal tissues, a short treatment course, and high biological effectiveness, making it particularly suitable for elderly patients who cannot tolerate conventional treatments.

The Lanzhou Campus of Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital is the second heavy-ion clinical center in China operating with domestically developed proprietary intellectual property rights, managed by Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital. Together with the first Chinese heavy-ion treatment system, the second Chinese heavy-ion tumor treatment system commenced clinical operation at the Lanzhou Campus of Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital on November 15, 2024. To date, our hospital has completed heavy-ion and photon therapy for over 530 patients, covering diseases such as lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, and glioblastoma.

We are now officially launching a clinical study of carbon ion radiotherapy for solid tumors in elderly patients aged 80 and above, and are recruiting eligible patients nationwide.

II. Research Objectives

The Lanzhou Campus of Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital will initiate this clinical trial in May 2026. This study aims to evaluate the safety and tolerability of carbon ion radiotherapy in patients aged 80 and above with solid tumors, to determine acute and chronic toxicities, and to assess local control rate, survival, quality of life, and functional status maintenance, thereby providing a safe and effective curative option for elderly cancer patients. A total of 47 participants are planned for enrollment. Participation in this study waives all costs related to heavy ion radiotherapy.

III. Inclusion Criteria

1. Age ≥ 80 years, male or female;

2. Pathologically or cytologically confirmed solid tumor (lung cancer, liver cancer, prostate cancer, esophageal cancer, head and neck cancer, bone and soft tissue sarcoma, etc.);

3. Assessed by MDT as suitable for radiotherapy, with no extensive distant metastasis;

4. ECOG performance status 0–2, with an expected survival of ≥ 6 months;

5. Major organ functions sufficient to tolerate radiotherapy, able to lie flat for more than 30 minutes;

6. Willing to sign informed consent voluntarily and able to comply with treatment and follow-up.

IV. Exclusion Criteria

1. Severe cardiopulmonary insufficiency, unable to cooperate with immobilization and treatment;

2. Moderate to severe cognitive impairment or dementia, unable to cooperate with treatment;

3. Uncontrolled severe hypertension, diabetes, infection, etc.;

4. Expected survival < 3 months;

5. Prior curative radiotherapy to the same site;

6. Extensive distant metastasis not suitable for local curative treatment;

7. Other conditions deemed inappropriate for enrollment by the physician.

V. Patient Rights

1. Full waiver of all carbon ion radiotherapy costs;

2. Personalized treatment plan tailored by a multidisciplinary tumor MDT team;

3. Long-term standardized follow-up after treatment, with guidance on rehabilitation and medication;

4. Access to the most advanced carbon ion radiotherapy technology and specialized geriatric oncology management in China.

VI. Contact Information

Clinic Address: Lanzhou Campus of Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital (No. 100 Yanbei Road, Chengguan District, Lanzhou City)

Consultation Hotline:

Li Xiaojun – +86 131 5016 0200

Du Lanning – +86 139 1909 4887

Evaluation Process: Submit documents → MDT assessment → Screening and enrollment → Simulation and treatment → Regular follow-up

Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital Lanzhou Campus

The Lanzhou Campus of Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital is the second heavy-ion clinical center in China operating with domestically developed proprietary intellectual property rights, managed by Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital. Together with the first Chinese heavy-ion treatment system, the second Chinese heavy-ion tumor treatment system commenced clinical operation at the Lanzhou Campus of Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital on November 15, 2024. To date, our hospital has completed heavy-ion and photon therapy for over 530 patients, covering diseases such as lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, and glioblastoma.

Our hospital has established an outstanding talent system, bringing together an expert workstation led by 50 top-tier authorities, including Professor Shen Wenjiang, Emeritus Professor of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Peking University Health Science Center, and Professor Xu Bo, Standing Committee Member of the Chinese Society of Radiation Oncology. Professor Wang Junjie, Chairman of the Chinese Society of Radiation Oncology, serves as the hospital director, providing strong technical support for heavy-ion therapy.

In addition, our hospital is equipped with a series of cutting-edge radiotherapy devices, including the Varian VitalBeam medical linear accelerator, the Elekta Infinity four-dimensional image-guided radiotherapy linear accelerator, a 3.0T simulation and positioning MRI, a GE 256-slice high-end CT, and a Varian Iridium-192 imported afterloader. These hardware facilities lay a solid foundation for heavy-ion therapy, ensuring high efficiency and precision throughout the treatment process.

With the goal of building a comprehensive, full-life-cycle tumor treatment system, our hospital has established departments including the Department of Radiation Oncology, Department of Medical Oncology/Hematology, Department of Surgical Oncology, Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine for Cancer Rehabilitation, Minimally Invasive Interventional Center, Department of Critical Care Medicine, and Digestive Endoscopy Center. We provide heavy-ion radiotherapy, photon radiotherapy, chemotherapy, minimally invasive interventional therapy, and comprehensive medical and surgical treatments for cancer.

Our hospital is equipped with advanced diagnostic technologies and facilities. We have medical technology departments such as the Department of Medical Imaging, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Blood Bank, and Hematology Center Laboratory, offering CT/MRI diagnostic imaging, medical laboratory testing, ultrasound diagnosis and interventional procedures, and bone marrow morphology examinations to meet patients' diagnostic needs.

The Minimally Invasive Interventional Center is equipped with an Iodine-125 brachytherapy system for tumors, a body implant navigation and positioning system, a GE digital subtraction angiography (DSA) unit, a microwave thermocoagulation therapy device, and an argon-helium cryoablation system. These enable precise treatment for cancer patients through embolization, ablation, and brachytherapy.