Precision Radiotherapy: Domestic Heavy Ions Open a New Cancer Treatment Pathway

Precision Radiotherapy: Domestic Heavy Ions Open a New Cancer Treatment Pathway

Malignant tumors remain a major threat to people's health and lives. Many cancer patients have already lost the opportunity for surgery at the time of diagnosis, and some are unable to tolerate the side effects of conventional radiotherapy and chemotherapy. How to maximize tumor killing while preserving normal organ function is a critical clinical challenge. In the era of precision radiotherapy, radiation surgery techniques continue to advance. Domestically produced heavy ion technology, leveraging the unique physical properties of the Bragg peak, delivers focused, targeted radiation to tumor tissue while significantly reducing damage to surrounding healthy tissues — opening new treatment pathways for many patients with refractory tumors.

From August 14 to 16, Professor Xia Tingyi, a renowned national expert in precision radiotherapy for tumors, visited the Lanzhou Campus of Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital to conduct routine consultations, teaching rounds, case discussions, and academic guidance. During this visit, Professor Xia worked in close collaboration with our Radiotherapy Center and multidisciplinary team, integrating cutting‑edge radiation surgery concepts with our hospital's core advantages in domestically produced heavy ion technology — empowering the standardization and advancement of oncology care in Northwest China.

A Pioneer and Pathfinder in the Field of Radiotherapy

Professor Xia Tingyi has been engaged in the field of tumor radiotherapy for more than 40 years and is a pioneer in modern precision radiation surgery in China. He has long‑standing expertise in stereotactic radiotherapy for solid tumors and comprehensive management of complex malignancies, with deep clinical experience in radiation therapy for lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, and intracranial tumors. He is also highly focused on the clinical translation and application of domestically produced heavy ion technology, and has accumulated extensive practical experience in optimizing radiotherapy protocols, managing radiation‑related adverse effects, and exploring innovative models in radiation surgery.

Optimizing Treatment Strategies to Protect Patients' Quality of Life

During the teaching rounds, Professor Xia Tingyi listened carefully as department physicians presented complex and recurrent tumor cases one by one. He meticulously reviewed imaging reports, gained a thorough understanding of each patient's physical condition and treatment history, and conducted on‑site analysis and assessment based on individual patient circumstances.

Focusing on the clinical application of heavy ion therapy, he provided an in‑depth analysis of the key balance between target volume delineation, dose distribution, and normal organ protection. He emphasized that while heavy ions offer unique physical and biological advantages, technological superiority alone does not guarantee treatment success. Only through rigorous and standardized target delineation, individualized treatment planning, and multidisciplinary collaborative assessment can the full therapeutic value of heavy ions be realized. Addressing the common challenges of organ injury and complication management during radiotherapy, Professor Xia drew on a wealth of clinical cases to share practical strategies for prevention, identification, and intervention — helping junior physicians develop sound clinical reasoning.

During outpatient consultations, he received patients with patience, explaining the benefits and risks of treatment in plain language, alleviating patient anxiety, and helping them understand both the treatment plan and build confidence in their recovery journey.

Domestically Produced Heavy Ions: Bringing Cutting-Edge Technology to the People of Gansu

As a key center for heavy ion therapy in Northwest China, the Lanzhou Campus of Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital fully leverages the domestically produced heavy ion therapy system to deliver heavy ion radiotherapy for a wide range of solid tumors. The center routinely employs advanced techniques such as respiratory gating and precise target volume delineation, providing individualized heavy ion‑based comprehensive treatment plans for patients who are unsuitable for surgery or who have experienced postoperative recurrence.

Regularly bringing in top national experts for on‑site consultations and teaching is an important part of our hospital's strategy to distribute high‑quality medical resources. Through ongoing collaboration and exchange with leading radiotherapy experts like Professor Xia Tingyi, we are able to integrate cutting‑edge clinical concepts with our hospital's strengths in heavy ion technology, ensuring that standardized and individualized diagnostic and treatment approaches are applied throughout each patient's care journey.

Looking ahead, the Lanzhou Campus of Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital will continue to build on its heavy ion technology strengths, leverage national‑level expert resources, strengthen discipline development, and enhance talent cultivation. We will continue to refine our multidisciplinary team (MDT) model, ensuring that cancer patients in Northwest China have access to top‑tier oncology care without having to leave their home region.

Writer: Liu Qiong  

First Review: Liu Qiong  

Second Review: Guo Yishan  

Third Review: Cai Qinghua