Gansu hospital promotes ion radiotherapy in HK甘肃医院在港研讨重离子治疗肿瘤新技术

A Gansu hospital held a seminar Friday morning in Hong Kong to promote ion radiotherapy using China’s self-developed technology. 

2024年12月6日，由甘肃省武威肿瘤医院主办的中国重离子系统临床应用新技术及绿色就医模式推介会在香港召开。

A heavy ion radio therapy cabin (重离子治疗系统治疗舱). Photos courtesy of the event organizers

The ion radiotherapy center, affiliated with the Gansu Wuwei Tumor Hospital, has successfully treated more than 1,600 tumor patients since its opening in March 2020. 

2020年3月，由位于甘肃兰州的中国科学院近代物理研究所研发的具有自主知识产权的中国首台套重离子治疗系统在甘肃省武威肿瘤医院重离子中心正式投入临床应用。

Radiotherapy should have low toxicity in the entrance channel (normal tissue) and be effective in cell killing in the target region (tumor). In this regard, ions heavier than protons offer both physical and radiobiological advantages over conventional X-rays. 

截止目前，已完成来自欧洲、北京、上海、广州、台湾、香港等国内外1616例患者的治疗，均取得了良好的效果。治疗的病种有肺癌、肝癌、胰腺癌、脑胶质瘤、乳腺癌、宫颈癌、卵巢癌等50余种。

Guests are seen at the seminar to promote heavy ion radiotherapy in Hong Kong on Friday.

Carbon ions, in particular, present an excellent combination of physical and biological benefits. According to Taiwanese professor Ren Yimin, who is now working with the Gansu hospital, there are about a dozen carbon-ion clinical centers in Europe and Asia, with more under construction or in the planning stages. 

据甘肃省武威肿瘤医院特聘教授、台湾肿瘤放射治疗协会前主任委员任益民教授介绍，重离子束拥有独特的物理和生物学特性，对健康组织损伤小，剂量精准。

Ren Yimin (R) and another guest present at the seminar.

“Ion radiotherapy can effectively treat around 50 types of tumors, including brain gliomas, lung cancer, liver cancer, and pancreatic cancer. In comparison with traditional treatments, it is less painful, more effective, and entails fewer side effects,” explained Ren. 

重离子治疗是目前最先进的肿瘤治疗技术，适合不宜或不愿手术切除的脑胶质瘤、肺癌、肝癌、胰腺癌等50余种全身实体肿瘤患者，具有副作用小、疗效显著等明显优势。德国、日本最早采用重离子治疗肿瘤，目前国内除了甘肃，上海复旦大学附属肿瘤医院也可以提供质子重离子放射治疗。

The heavy ion accelerator utilized in Gansu Wuwei Tumor Hospital was developed by the Institute of Modern Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. In September, two additional ion therapy cabins were put into operation in the Wuwei center. 

今年9月，武威重离子治疗肿瘤系统迭代升级，装配有机器人臂治疗床的3、4号治疗舱投入使用；今年11月，由武威肿瘤医院托管运营的兰州重离子系统4个治疗舱全面投入使用，甘肃省武威肿瘤医院同时使用8个治疗舱治疗病人，治疗能力将达到每月200人。

Qi Ying, deputy with the Lanzhou center of Ganwu Wuwei Tumor Hospital, gives a lecture.

Subsequently, in November, another four cabins commenced receiving patients at the newly established Lanzhou center overseen by the Wuwei hospital. “Presently, the hospital can accommodate up to 200 cancer patients per month,” said Qi Ying, deputy head of the Lanzhou center. 

本次推介会在香港的成功举办，对进一步加强香港医疗界和公众对离子治疗的认识，促进首台国产重离子系统在香港的推广具有重要意义。中国抗癌协会港澳常务理事、前韦尔斯亲王医院创院院长、前香港卫生署副局长李函宓先生、香港养和医院首席物理师袁璟先生、AMO肿瘤中心顾问药剂师梁耀鸣先生及香港医护界专家、南航集团文化传媒公司相关负责人、媒体代表以及甘肃省武威肿瘤医院负责同志及专业技术人员出席了会议。

The primary debate surrounding this innovative technology concerns its cost efficiency, as heavy ion radiotherapy often incurs significantly higher costs than conventional radiotherapies. To tackle this issue, various Chinese insurance companies have started offering a special policy to cover the expenses of heavy ion radiotherapy, Qi noted. 

据了解，为了有效地解决医疗费用问题，甘肃省武威肿瘤医院与中国人寿等保险公司联合推出了“百万医疗+重离子就医绿色信道”项目。

An aerial view of the Wuwei heavy ion radiotherapy center (武威重离子治疗中心). 

Meanwhile, China Southern Airlines has partnered with the hospital to provide premium services to patients and their families who opt to fly to Gansu on flights operated by the company. 

同时，甘肃省武威肿瘤医院携手南航传媒共同推出了“重离子病陪员绿色就医航空高质量服务”项目。当患者及陪同家属选择乘坐南航航班前往甘肃省武威肿瘤医院就医时，将享受南航贵宾服务。