Radiation Oncology Center Ⅰ(International Medical Department Ⅰ)

Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital Radiation Oncology Center Ⅰ(International Medical Department Ⅰ）

Department Slogan: Erudite, Expert, Humble, Sincere

I. Department Overview and Positioning

The First Department of Radiotherapy Center (also known as the First International Medical Department) is a nationally recognized key specialty and a key discipline in Gansu Province. Established and led by Dr. Zhang Yanshan, the department focuses on heavy-ion research and clinical application, making it the earliest clinical center in China dedicated to heavy-ion clinical application. Currently, it handles the largest annual volume of heavy-ion therapy cases with the most complex disease profiles in the country. As of February 2026, the department has completed 1,464 heavy-ion therapy treatments. Through continuous summarization and refinement of clinical experience, the department has developed expertise in heavy-ion therapy for tumors across various body parts. It has established advantageous disease types in the treatment of lung cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, and bone and soft tissue tumors using heavy-ion therapy, significantly improving therapeutic outcomes for these conditions. The department has pioneered and refined heavy-ion therapy both domestically and internationally for diseases such as laryngeal cancer, bladder cancer, breast cancer, and rectal cancer. It has innovatively implemented several world-first radiotherapy techniques, including the use of high-frequency oscillatory ventilation under general anesthesia, bladder volume and pressure control devices, breast fixation devices, and heavy-ion radiotherapy following surgical spacer placement between the tumor and organs at risk, as well as heavy-ion therapy for cardiac tumors. These advancements further enhance the precision of heavy-ion radiotherapy by increasing the localized radiation dose to tumors while better protecting normal tissues, thereby improving efficacy and reducing side effects. The department routinely employs photon radiotherapy, encompassing both traditional and advanced techniques, including stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT).

II. Talent Team and Academic Echelon

Team Size: The department currently operates one specialized clinic and one inpatient unit with 60 beds. It has a team of 8 physicians, comprising 2 Chief Physicians, 1 Associate Chief Physician, 3 Attending Physicians, and 3 Resident Physicians, along with 9 nursing staff members. Among the team, 37% hold senior professional titles, and 38% hold intermediate professional titles.

Core Expert: Zhang Yanshan, Vice President of Wuwei Cancer Hospital. Dr. Zhang graduated from Lanzhou University with a doctorate in 2009 and is a Chief Physician in both Radiation Oncology and Surgical Oncology. He served as the Director of the Department of Surgical Oncology for 10 years. He is recognized as an Excellent Expert of Gansu Province, a Leading Talent of the First Level in Gansu Province, and a Leading Talent of the First Level in Wuwei City. He is the founding director of a national key discipline development project. His academic appointments include Visiting Researcher at the Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); Adjunct Master's Supervisor at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences; Adjunct Master's Supervisor at Gansu University of Chinese Medicine; Adjunct Master's Supervisor at Northwest Normal University; and Adjunct Master's Supervisor at Shanxi Medical University. His team was recognized as an Excellent Team by the Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security and the Provincial Health Commission in 2020, and again by the Provincial Health Commission in 2021. In 2022, he was nominated for the "Tianma Craftsman" award by the Wuwei City Federation of Trade Unions. Dr. Zhang has long been engaged in clinical and scientific research in oncology. He has led and completed multiple provincial and municipal key projects, major special plans, and research initiatives funded by the Provincial Department of Science and Technology. He is proficient in English (listening, speaking, reading, writing, and translation). He has published 26 SCI papers as the first author and several dozen papers in domestic core journals. He frequently participates in international and domestic academic exchanges.

Key Academic Appointments:

• Visiting Researcher, Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)
• Member, Proton and Heavy Ion Radiotherapy Professional Committee, China Association for Promotion of Health Science and Technology
• Executive Member, First Session of the Ion Radiotherapy Branch, China Medical Equipment Association
• Member, Integrated Oncology Branch, Chinese Anti-Cancer Association
• Executive Committee Member, Gan-Qing-Ning Branch of the First Radioimmunology Working Committee, China Radiation Therapy Oncology Union
• Council Member, Western Radiation Therapy Association
• Vice Chairman, the 5th Committee of Radiation Oncology, Gansu Provincial Medical Association  
• Vice Chairman, Radiotherapy Committee, Gansu Provincial Anti-Cancer Association  
• Vice Chairman, the 2nd Committee of Clinical Research on Anticancer Drugs, Gansu Provincial Anti-Cancer Association  
• Vice Chairman, the 2nd Committee of Glioma, Gansu Provincial Anti-Cancer Association  
• Vice Chairman, the 1st Committee of Radiation Oncology, Gansu Provincial Geriatrics Society  
• Vice Chairman, the 1st Committee of Brachytherapy, Gansu Provincial Anti-Cancer Association  
• Vice Chairman, Gansu Provincial Nutrition Society  
• Nominee, "Tianma Craftsman," Wuwei City Federation of Trade Unions  
• Chairman, the 2nd Committee of Radiation Oncology, Wuwei City  
• Vice Chairman, Wuwei City Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Committee, etc.

Zhang Yihe: Director of Radiation Oncology Center Ⅰ(International Medical Department Ⅰ）, Chief Physician, holds a Bachelor's degree. She has received advanced training in heavy-ion related specialties at the National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS) in Japan and the Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Hospital. She has led his team in the innovative development of multiple new technologies and projects. She possesses extensive clinical experience in advanced radiotherapy techniques such as Carbon-Ion Radiotherapy (CIRT) for various tumors throughout the body, Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) / Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS), Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT), and Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT), as well as in comprehensive cancer treatments including targeted therapy, immunotherapy, cellular immunotherapy, and chemotherapy. She has led and completed several provincial and municipal-level research projects. As the first or corresponding author, she has published over 10 papers in SCI journals and domestic core journals. She was elected as a delegate to the 13th Gansu Provincial Congress of the Communist Party of China and was awarded the title of Excellent Doctor of Wuwei City in 2019. Her main academic appointments include: Member of the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association; Committee Member of the Gansu Provincial Anti-Cancer Association; Committee Member of the Gansu Provincial Anti-Cancer Association; Committee Member of the Brain Glioma Professional Committee of the Gansu Provincial Anti-Cancer Association; Committee Member of the Oncology Professional Committee of the Gansu Provincial Geriatrics Society; Committee Member of the Gan-Qing-Ning Branch of the Radioimmunology Working Committee, etc.

Radiation Oncology Center Ⅰ(International Medical Department Ⅰ） is a nationally recognized key specialty and a key discipline in Gansu Province. Established and led by Dr. Zhang Yanshan, the department focuses on heavy-ion research and clinical application, making it the earliest clinical center in China dedicated to heavy-ion clinical application. Currently, it handles the largest annual volume of heavy-ion therapy cases with the most complex disease profiles in the country. As of February 2026, the department has completed 1,464 heavy-ion therapy treatments. It currently has 1 staff member with a Ph.D. and 4 with Master's degrees. The existing talent echelon of the First Department of Radiotherapy Center (First International Medical Department) is rationally structured and possesses substantial potential for sustainable development, demonstrating strong scientific research and professional growth capabilities that can propel the department's synergistic progress in both clinical treatment and academic research. The departmental team exhibits strong learning abilities and momentum for future development. Furthermore, the nursing team is appropriately matched with the physicians, ensuring the effective implementation of clinical services. Overall, the Radiation Oncology Center Ⅰ(International Medical Department Ⅰ） has achieved orderly progression in professional titles and an optimized educational structure in its talent echelon construction, laying a solid foundation for enhancing the department's medical quality and the sustainable development of the discipline.

III. Scope of Diagnosis and Treatment & Technical Features

In terms of treatment techniques, the department comprehensively carries out multiple internationally mainstream carbon-ion radiotherapy technologies, as well as Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS), Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiotherapy (SABR/SBRT), Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT), Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT), Image-Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT), Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiotherapy (3D-CRT), deep hyperthermia, and external hyperthermia. Department members continuously update their knowledge based on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines, which serve as the guiding principle for comprehensive cancer treatment in real-time. This has shaped the department into one that utilizes heavy ions as a powerful tool, fully integrating chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy for comprehensive cancer treatment. The department maintains global parity in technologies related to cancer diagnosis and comprehensive treatment.

Characteristic pioneering technology

1. High-Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation under General Anesthesia: Carbon ion beams are high-LET (Linear Energy Transfer) radiation, possessing the advantage of a physical dose distribution (Bragg Peak). Organs at risk located beyond the beam's range receive virtually no radiation dose, while the peak region exhibits high biological effectiveness. This has led to remarkably significant efficacy in clinical cancer treatment using carbon ion beams to date. However, when carbon ion beams are used to treat tumors in the body, they encounter the inherent respiratory motion of organs such as the lungs, liver, and breast. This motion causes the radiotherapy target area to shift relative to the accelerator's stationary radiation field. For a target area moving during irradiation, the relative positional changes between the scattering beam and the target can lead to discrepancies between the actual radiation dose received by the patient and the originally planned dose. Respiratory motion alters the length and density of the tissue along the path of the carbon ion pencil beam, thereby changing the position and shape of the Bragg peak within the body and affecting the dose distribution. While conventional hypofractionated radiotherapy has several methods to manage target and organ motion caused by breathing, each has its own limitations and drawbacks. The technique investigated in this project—combining respiratory suppression via general anesthesia with high-frequency ventilation for carbon ion radiotherapy—is an emerging technology. Introduced from Switzerland, no similar technique has been implemented domestically in China. International literature reports on combining this approach with hypofractionated radiotherapy indicate that the technique of suppressing respiration under general anesthesia is safe, with no reported adverse safety events. We are applying Non-Invasive High-Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation (NIHFOV) combined with respiratory suppression under general anesthesia in carbon ion radiotherapy. During carbon ion radiotherapy, which involves high single doses and a low number of fractions, this ensures that the target volume for thoracic and abdominal tumors consistently remains within the peak region throughout the treatment. This improves treatment precision, reduces the impact of organ motion on target position, guarantees accurate dose delivery and positioning, and further minimizes radiation exposure to normal tissues. We are further refining and perfecting the implementation methods of this technique, providing sufficient time assurance for precise radiotherapy.

2. Heavy-Ion Radiotherapy Following Surgical Placement of Spacers Between Abdominopelvic Tumors and Organs at Risk: Abdominopelvic tumors often pose significant challenges for radical radiotherapy due to their anatomical location or proximity to the bowel and rectum. As early as 2016, a Japanese study reported on 6 patients with sacral chordoma, achieving a 100% success rate with no adverse reactions observed in any patient. The surgical implantation of silicone spacers creates a safety margin for heavy-ion radiotherapy, thereby enabling a higher radiation dose and improving treatment outcomes. Building on this theoretical foundation, our department has innovatively pioneered the surgical placement of spacer tissues, either via open surgery or endoscopy, to establish a dosimetric safety margin for radical heavy-ion radiotherapy. This approach aims to enhance the efficacy of heavy-ion radiotherapy while reducing its side effects. By creating this safety margin through open or endoscopic spacer placement, we facilitate radical treatment with carbon ion radiotherapy, expanding its applicability to more complex clinical scenarios.

3. Carbon Ion Therapy for Breast Cancer: Compared to traditional photon radiotherapy, carbon ion radiotherapy (heavy-ion radiotherapy) exhibits the Bragg Peak effect. This allows it to deposit a higher energy dose precisely within the target area to kill tumor cells effectively, while simultaneously significantly reducing the radiation exposure to healthy tissues surrounding the tumor. This physical characteristic offers a distinct advantage in protecting critical organs such as the heart and lungs, making it particularly suitable for breast cancer patients, given the breast's proximity to these organs. Furthermore, the enhanced biological effectiveness of carbon ions (such as a greater lethal effect on hypoxic tumor cells) can further improve local control rates, an outcome that is difficult to achieve with conventional radiotherapy.

Breakthrough in Non-Surgical Breast-Conserving Therapy: Currently, breast-conserving therapy typically requires surgical tumor resection followed by adjuvant radiotherapy. Replacing surgery directly with carbon ion radiotherapy could achieve "non-invasive breast conservation." If successful, this model would offer patients an option with less trauma, faster recovery, and higher quality of life, particularly suitable for elderly patients or those with contraindications for surgery. Integration of Comprehensive Treatment Strategies: Combining carbon ion radiotherapy with endocrine therapy, targeted therapy, and chemotherapy creates a multi-modal regimen integrating "precision radiotherapy + systemic therapy." This reflects a deep consideration of tumor heterogeneity and the need for systemic treatment, potentially leading to significantly improved survival rates—a synergistic effect unattainable by traditional radiotherapy or surgery alone. Promotion of Personalized Treatment: Tailoring radiotherapy doses and fractionation schemes based on tumor characteristics (such as size, grade, and molecular subtype) can optimize efficacy and reduce toxicity. This aligns perfectly with the current trend toward "precision medicine" in oncology.

4.  Bladder Cancer Heavy-Ion Radiotherapy Using a Bladder Volume and Pressure Control Device

Bladder cancer is the most common malignancy of the urinary system. Although its incidence is on the rise, the mortality rate has slightly decreased due to the development of new chemotherapy drugs, the mature application of novel radiotherapy technologies, and the optimization and integrated application of various treatment modalities. The standard treatment for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (without distant metastasis) is neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with radical cystectomy (RC) and pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND). For patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer without distant metastasis, the 5-year survival rate following this combined treatment approach is approximately 50%. Over the past two decades, new treatment strategies have been continuously explored, aiming to preserve patients' bladder function and improve their quality of life without compromising survival. Radiotherapy is an important treatment modality for bladder cancer.

However, the dynamic control and stability of bladder capacity and volume pose a significant challenge in bladder cancer radiotherapy. In July 2020, our center successfully pioneered the world's first "non-invasive" heavy-ion radiotherapy for bladder cancer using a bladder volume and pressure control device. This led to the development of the "Galloping Scheme," a treatment protocol for bladder cancer at the Wuwei Heavy-Ion Center. This method has now been successfully used to perform "precision ablative" treatment on bladder tumors for multiple patients. By employing this scheme during treatment, changes in bladder capacity, volume, and position can be effectively and precisely controlled, allowing the high-dose distribution region (Bragg Peak) of the heavy ions to perfectly conform to the tumor. This ensures the safety and efficacy of the treatment, yielding significant therapeutic results without noticeable adverse reactions.

IV. Hardware Facilities and Research Platforms

The department members are proficient in English and actively engage in extensive international and domestic academic exchanges. Since its establishment, under the leadership of the hospital director, the department has strengthened professional learning, enhanced its technical expertise, and solidified its capabilities in academic writing and research. To date, the entire department has registered and conducted over 25 clinical trials, led and participated in the completion of more than 10 provincial-level research projects, and published over 30 articles in provincial, national, and SCI-indexed journals. Additionally, the department has been granted 5 national utility model patents and 1 national invention patent.

V. Service Philosophy and Patient Care

Influenced by the department's motto—"Erudite, Expert, Humble, Sincere"—and its core culture of "cultivation rooted in the heart, self-discipline without reminder, freedom premised on restraint, and kindness that considers others," all medical and nursing staff of the  Radiation Oncology Center Ⅰ(International Medical Department Ⅰ) are highly regarded by patients and their families for their rigorous professionalism and considerate medical services. All patients treated in our department can also benefit from innovative health management models, including psychological therapy, traditional Chinese medicine physiotherapy, rehabilitation therapy, biological immunotherapy, pastoral therapy, and cultural therapy. This allows patients from all over the world to experience the health services offered at the world's first specialized oncology care and recuperation town.

VI. Contact Information and Visit Guide

Address:  Radiation Oncology Center Ⅰ(International Medical Department Ⅰ), Second Floor, Main Building, Heavy Ion Center, Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital.

For professional inquiries regarding disease diagnosis and treatment, as well as other non-professional questions related to your visit, you can consult our team members:

Physician Group：

• Zhang Yanshan (Vice President): +86 13830510999
• Zhang Yihe (Department Director): +86 13993508641
• Pan Xin (Physician): +86 15294336950
• Wang Xin (Physician): +86 18993521798
• Yang Yuling (Physician): +86 18368918761
• Ma Tong (Physician): +86 15751948504
• He Nana (Physician): +86 18809406750
• Li Zhenglin (Physician): +86 17693413240

Nursing Group：

• Head Nurse Li Xiaowei: +86 13893566081  
• Nurse Gu Na: +86 13993557754  
• Nurse Zhang Li: +86 18309456819  
• Nurse Zhu Mei: +86 18293538760