Culture as a Bridge: Promoting Heavy Ion Therapy Development
"I have heard that in the ancient Xiliang region, the land was densely populated with mulberry and tung trees flourishing everywhere." Wuwei, this radiant "pearl" on the Hexi Corridor, has long been a symbol of prosperity and poetic charm in the northwest.
On September 16, an international delegation of radiation therapy experts—including Professor Tatsuaki Kanai from the Osaka Heavy Ion Therapy Center (Japan), Dr. Jörg Hauffe from the RPTC (Munich Proton Therapy Center, Germany), Professors Tan Hong Qi, Wang Fuqiang, Lew Kah Seng, and Lee Kang Hao from the National Cancer Centre Singapore, former Chairman of the Taiwan Radiation Oncology Society Yee-min Jen, former Chief Physicist of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Jiaming Wu, Executive Secretary-General of the Radiotherapy Expert Committee of the Bethune Foundation and Director of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Peking University Third Hospital Jiang Ping, as well as Professors Ji Zhe, Jiang Yuliang, and Sun Haitao from Peking University Third Hospital—visited the Six-Dam Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum in Liangzhou District, Wuwei.
There, they watched the Liangzhou Gong Drum Dance, listened to Liangzhou Xianxiao (a traditional storytelling art form), immersed themselves in Liangzhou’s rich cultural heritage, and jointly appreciated the spirit of the "Heavenly Horse" (Tianma).
Wuwei, also known as Liangzhou, is one of China's renowned historical and cultural cities. Historically, it served as a vital military stronghold along the Silk Road, celebrated for its strategic advantages—"abundant provisions and formidable defenses"—earning it the proud name Liangzhou (literally "Proud Prefecture").
The Liangzhou Gong Drum Dance originated from Han and Tang dynasty military music and dance traditions, later evolving into a vibrant folk performance. It became a highlight of Liangzhou Shehuo, a grand traditional ceremony held during major festivals and sacrificial rituals. After centuries of cultural transmission, this dynamic art form remains as captivating as ever, a testament to its enduring legacy. In October 2008, the Liangzhou Gong Drum Dance was inscribed on China's National Intangible Cultural Heritage List, cementing its reputation both domestically and internationally as a cherished thousand-year-old tradition.
Since 2016, Wuwei Cancer Hospital in Gansu Province has actively engaged in international heavy ion therapy collaboration. Over the years, the hospital has regularly invited world-renowned heavy ion therapy experts—including Professor Hirohiko Tsujii and Professor Koichi Shibayama from Japan, Professor Tatsuaki Kanai from Japan, and Professor Jörg Hauffe from Germany—to conduct clinical work in Wuwei.
Simultaneously, over 50 key technical staff members from the hospital have received advanced training at leading medical centers in Germany, the United States, Japan, and other top domestic institutions.
To date, the hospital has established a Precision Radiotherapy Demonstration Base for Cross-Strait (Taiwan-China) Cooperation. Professor Wu Jiaming, former Chief Physicist at Taiwan’s Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, and Professor Ren Yimin, former Chairman of the Taiwan Radiation Oncology Society, have been long-term collaborators at the hospital.
Professor Hirohiko Tsujii is making his ward round
Professor Tatsuaki Kanai providing expert guidance
Professors Jörg Hauffe and Olga Hauffe providing expert guidance
Prof. Yee-Min Jen and Prof. Jiaming Wu conducting ward rounds
As China's first clinical application base for heavy ion radiotherapy systems, Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital has treated over 1,500 patients, achieving remarkable therapeutic outcomes for complex lesions in the skull, pancreas, lungs, and other critical areas. Patients have come from across China as well as international regions including Belgium and Australia.
The hospital has published six authoritative monographs:
- Standard Operating Procedures for Carbon Ion Radiotherapy
- Radiation Safety Management and Equipment Operation Guidelines for Carbon Ion Therapy
- Precision Carbon Ion Therapy for Tumors - Technical Volume
- Precision Carbon Ion Therapy for Tumors - Clinical Volume
- Precision Carbon Ion Therapy for Tumors - Physics Volume
- (Additional publication as listed)
The hospital has established China's first quality management system for heavy ion radiotherapy and developed clinical treatment protocols for over 40 disease types.
Furthermore, it has created a comprehensive, full-life-cycle health management system featuring:
- Comprehensive tumor treatment
- Dietary management therapy
- Psychosomatic health management
- Traditional Chinese medicine syndrome differentiation therapy
- Rehabilitation physiotherapy
- Biological immunocellular therapy
- Pastoral therapy
- Cultural therapy
Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital will further intensify international medical exchanges and cooperation, fully harnessing its unique global resources to establish a comprehensive medical talent cultivation system. The hospital is committed to serving as a pivotal bridge in advancing international collaboration, marking a new milestone in its development. By driving high-quality and transformative growth, the hospital aims to collaborate with all stakeholders to propel continuous progress in the medical field, ultimately contributing to the betterment of global healthcare.
