Clinical Record of Professor Duan Minghui (Peking Union Medical College Hospital) at Wuwei

A Hematology Expert Brings the Spark of Life – Clinical Record of Professor Duan Minghui (Peking Union Medical College Hospital) at Wuwei

Blood is the "river of life" within the human body. It flows unceasingly, carrying oxygen and nutrients to every part of the body. But when the source of this river — the hematopoietic system — harbors "insurgents" (such as leukemia cells, lymphoma cells, and others), the traditional fear of a "blood cancer" diagnosis can shroud a family. Many people still believe that hematologic malignancies are incurable. However, with the advent of the era of precision medicine, this perception is being fundamentally rewritten.

Modern diagnosis and treatment of blood disorders have moved beyond the era of "cancer as a death sentence" into a phase of "precision targeting." Diagnosis now relies on bone marrow morphology, flow cytometry, genetic sequencing, and other tools for precise subtyping. Treatment integrates a range of modalities, including targeted therapy, immunotherapy (e.g., CAR‑T), and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. On July 27, Professor Duan Minghui from the Department of Hematology at Peking Union Medical College Hospital brought his cutting‑edge expertise across thousands of miles to Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital. Working alongside our hematology team, he integrated advanced diagnostic and therapeutic approaches into clinical practice, bringing new hope and tangible benefits to patients with hematologic disorders in Northwest China.

At eight in the morning, the outpatient waiting area was already filled with patients who had traveled from across Gansu and even from neighboring provinces. Among them were elderly patients who had lived for years with anxiety over persistently low platelet counts, and families who had spent sleepless nights after a relapse of lymphoma. With each patient, Professor Duan Minghui leaned in to listen attentively, translating complex medical terminology into plain language. Drawing on each patient's individual history, he clearly explained the current stage of their disease, the treatment options available, and the associated risks and benefits of each. His calm and reassuring expertise gave many families — who had long struggled along a difficult and uncertain medical journey — a clear sense of direction.

Integrating knowledge with practice, teaching and learning reinforce each other. After the outpatient sessions, Professor Duan proceeded directly to the inpatient ward. Facing a number of complex cases, he engaged in in‑depth discussions with our hematology team, carefully reviewing the case presentations from the attending physicians, meticulously analyzing each patient's treatment course, and providing on‑site guidance to refine treatment strategies — generously sharing the standardized clinical reasoning practiced at Peking Union Medical College Hospital. In the afternoon, Professor Duan delivered a special lecture, using the ward round cases as a starting point to explore the deeper logic of epidemiology and morphology, and sharing the hospital's years of clinical experience with the broader medical and nursing staff. From bedside to podium, this academic relay ensured that advanced clinical thinking took root in the Hexi Corridor.

A strong foundation is essential for excellence. As a key municipal‑level discipline, our Department of Hematology is equipped with leading‑edge facilities in the Hexi region, including a Class 100 clean transplant unit, a sterile laminar airflow ward, and a hematology laboratory. We were the first among prefecture‑level hospitals in Gansu to introduce hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (including both autologous and allogeneic transplantation), and our laminar airflow beds provide a critical "lifeline" for patients in the myelosuppressive phase after chemotherapy. Meanwhile, our blood cell apheresis technology serves as a "bomb disposal expert" for conditions such as hyperleukocytosis, thrombocytosis, and erythrocytosis. Professor Duan Minghui's visit is a vivid reflection of our hospital's commitment to "gathering world‑leading technologies to benefit cancer patients everywhere." Through regular exchanges with experts from Peking Union Medical College Hospital, we are integrating advanced clinical expertise into our daily practice. With more standardized diagnosis and treatment, refined technical skills, and compassionate care, we are dedicated to safeguarding the health and lives of the people.

Writer: Yang Yang

First Review: Yang Yang

Second Review: Guo Yishan

Third Review: Cai Qinghua

Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital (Wuwei Academy of Medical Sciences)

（甘）医广【2025】第11-14-387号