
Credit: Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center
Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center (SYSUCC) is a top cancer institution in China. A strong innovator in basic, translational and clinical cancer research, it has fostered collaboration between basic and clinical scientists to work on colorectal, liver, lung, and other cancers.
Focusing on hereditary susceptibility, the mechanisms of tumorigenesis and metastasis, tumour immunology and metabolic regulation, SYSUCC researchers have made breakthroughs in basic theories and diagnosis/treatment technologies, leading to improvement in targeted therapy, personalized radiotherapy, and integrated treatment, with many technological innovations patented. In the Nature Index 2018 ranking for healthcare institutions, SYSUCC is ranked seventh among all cancer centres, and the highest in China.
One of SYSUCC’s specialities is the diagnosis and treatment of nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC). Although rare in many parts of the world, it is one of the most prevalent cancers in Guangdong, and a major health threat across southern China. SYSUCC researchers have invented a novel chemotherapy for this disease, significantly improving treatment effects and the control of tumour progression, bringing hope to many NPC patients. They have also made breakthroughs in NPC genetic susceptibility, discovered key receptors for EBV infection in epithelial cells, and have identified molecular markers for predicting NPC metastasis, guiding the selection of treatment options.
In collaboration with international researchers, another SYSUCC team has developed a novel liquid biopsy method that checks the methylation level of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) using simple blood samples from liver cancer patients. This non-invasive approach will improve the accuracy rate of early diagnosis and the assessment of patients’ responses to therapy, while minimizing unnecessary biopsies and radiation exposure.
Committed to providing the best diagnostic and therapeutic services to cancer patients, SYSUCC is continually improving its clinical services. It houses Asia’s top radiotherapy centre, uses robotic technology for minimally invasive surgeries, and encourages interdisciplinary collaboration in diagnosis and treatment. Its quality clinical research results are internationally recognized, with some used as the global standard for cancer diagnosis and treatment.
To meet the increasing demand for cancer care, SYSUCC professionals had 1.03 million outpatient visits, admitted 118,000 inpatients, and performed 23,288 medical operations in 2018 alone. New campuses are planned to expand its medical services to a larger group of patients.
SYSUCC aims to enhance its collaboration with global peers. It is seeking to contribute to the exploration and development of cutting-edge cancer treatment technologies for the world. To achieve this goal, SYSUCC is looking for talented young researchers to join its endeavour to fight against cancer.
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