Lanzhou Heavy Ion Experts Draft New Quality Development Blueprint

International Experts Join Again — Top Minds at Lanzhou Heavy Ion Center Collaborate to Chart a New Blueprint for High-Quality Heavy Ion Development

On July 20, internationally renowned radiation oncology expert Professor Gordon Louis Gardo visited Wuwei Cancer Hospital's Lanzhou Heavy Ion Center for in-depth exchanges and cooperation discussions, injecting strong international momentum into the center's high-quality development. This visit by Professor Gardo marks a significant step forward for the Lanzhou Heavy Ion Center in gathering global top-tier resources and accelerating the enhancement of its core competitiveness in carbon ion therapy.

Top Experts Conduct On-Site Visit, Launching New Chapter of In-Depth Collaboration

Professor Gordon Louis Gardo is an internationally renowned radiation oncology expert certified by the American Board of Radiology, specializing in prostate cancer brachytherapy with particular expertise in ultrasound/fluorescence-guided salvage therapy techniques. He received advanced training at the Mayo Clinic, previously served as Chairman of the Department of Oncology at Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, and later founded the Southwest Oncology Center where he acted as Medical Director. He has also led the establishment of multiple oncology centers in Mexico, El Salvador, and other regions. As a pioneer in prostate brachytherapy, he developed standardized training programs and has promoted these techniques in over 20 countries worldwide.

During his in-depth inspection of the core facilities at the Lanzhou Heavy Ion Center, Professor Gardo spoke highly of the center's advanced heavy ion accelerator systems and sophisticated treatment equipment, expressing strong interest in the center's achievements in heavy ion cancer therapy. This visit laid a solid and直观 foundation for further deepening cooperation between the two parties.

Focusing on Efficacy and Impact, Collaborating for High-Quality Development

During the symposium, presided over by Qi Ying, Deputy Director of Lanzhou Heavy Ion Center, medical physicist Ma Wenjun introduced the facility, while Deputy Director Li Xiaojun delivered a comprehensive summary of key cases. Professor Guido Hildebrandt, drawing upon his extensive international expertise, engaged in dynamic and constructive discussions with the center's core team. Both parties conducted in-depth exchanges on critical areas including treatment protocol optimization, clinical efficacy enhancement, multidisciplinary collaboration, international academic influence expansion, global patient attraction, and standardized treatment system development. The substantive discussions provided a crucial foundation for formulating future international cooperation plans.

Global Expertise Empowers Precision Implementation for Advancement

After the meeting, Professor Gardo conducted a teaching rounds for a cancer patient. He carefully listened to the attending physician's detailed report on the patient's condition, medical history, and current heavy ion therapy plan, while reviewing imaging data and treatment protocols. His direct guidance provided internationally leading expertise for the patient's personalized precision treatment, while also offering a valuable hands-on teaching experience for the center's clinical team, significantly enhancing their practical skills.

Professor Gordon Louis Gardo's visit serves as solid evidence of the effective implementation of high-quality development initiatives at the Wuwei Cancer Hospital Heavy Ion Center in Gansu Province. Guided by the hospital's "recruitment and cultivation" talent strategy, the center will continue to integrate global top-tier medical resources, build an international expert team, and strengthen the collaborative innovation advantages of its dual heavy ion centers.

Moving forward, the hospital will leverage deepened international cooperation and technological innovation to establish itself as a globally influential hub for heavy ion therapy, promoting China's treatment protocols as a new benchmark for precision oncology and delivering higher-quality medical services to patients worldwide.

Lanzhou Heavy Ion Center

Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital is a state-owned public Grade III Class A specialized oncology hospital. The Lanzhou Heavy Ion Center, the second clinical application center for heavy ion therapy with independent Chinese intellectual property rights operated by Wuwei Cancer Hospital, commenced clinical operations on November 15, 2024, hosting the country's second domestically developed heavy ion tumor treatment system in collaboration with China's first heavy ion treatment system. To date, the center has treated over 230 patients using photon and heavy ion therapies, covering cancers such as lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, and glioblastoma.

The Lanzhou Heavy Ion Center has established an elite talent system, forming an expert workstation led by 50 top authorities in the field, including Professor Shen Wenjiang, Lifetime Honorary Professor of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Peking University Health Science Center, and Professor Xu Bo, Standing Committee Member of the Radiation Oncology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association. Professor Wang Junjie, Chairman of the Radiation Oncology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, serves as the center's director, providing robust technical support for heavy ion therapy.

The facility is equipped with state-of-the-art medical devices, including the Varian VitalBeam medical linear accelerator, Elekta Infinity four-dimensional image-guided linear accelerator, 3.0T simulation positioning MRI, GE 256-slice high-end CT, and Varian Ir-192 high-dose-rate brachytherapy system. These advanced facilities form a solid foundation for heavy ion therapy, ensuring highly efficient and precise treatment processes.

Aiming to establish a comprehensive, full-life-cycle oncology treatment system, the hospital operates specialized departments including Radiation Oncology, Medical Oncology/Hematology, Surgical Oncology, Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Oncology Rehabilitation, Critical Care Medicine, Digestive Endoscopy Center, Imaging, Clinical Laboratory, Ultrasound Medicine, Blood Bank, and Hematology Center Laboratory. It provides integrated treatments such as photon radiotherapy, chemotherapy, heavy ion therapy, medical oncology, and surgical oncology, as well as diagnostic services including imaging, laboratory testing, ultrasound, and bone marrow cytology examinations.