Zhongshan Hospital

Liver cancer surgery, including complex cases

Zhongshan combines a dedicated liver cancer programme with extensive liver surgical experience. Its work covers straightforward resection as well as recurrent disease, difficult tumour locations and cases needing reassessment of surgical options. Decisions consider tumour extent, major vessels, cirrhosis and the function of the liver that would remain.

For patients, a specialist opinion can make the question of operability more precise: what limits surgery, what still needs clarification and how an operation could fit with other treatment. This can also be useful after receiving an opinion elsewhere.

Combined treatment and recurrence research

The liver cancer programme extends beyond the operation itself. Earlier work examined resection after tumour shrinkage with arterial treatment, while subsequent research has continued to address recurrence and metastasis. The CARES-009 study reported in 2025 explored perioperative immunotherapy and targeted treatment in a selected group with resectable liver cancer.

This work brings local control, systemic treatment and surgical timing into the same discussion. A study does not establish a suitable regimen for every patient, but it shows the team’s sustained focus on treatment sequencing and recurrence.

Endoscopic treatment for early cancers and submucosal tumours

Zhongshan’s endoscopy centre has a distinctive programme in early digestive lesions and submucosal tumours. Endoscopic submucosal dissection, or ESD, addresses suitable superficial lesions. Full-thickness, excavation and tunnelling techniques extend minimally invasive options for selected deeper lesions.

An appropriate endoscopic approach may preserve more normal tissue than a larger surgical resection. Suitability depends on depth, pathology, location and lymph-node risk, rather than size alone.

Multidisciplinary care for demanding treatment

Cancer care often involves more than the tumour. Liver cancer may coexist with cirrhosis; complex surgery may be complicated by heart or lung disease, poor nutrition or kidney problems. Zhongshan’s broad specialties and multidisciplinary teams provide a setting for these issues to be assessed together.

Imaging, interventional, radiation and surgical services support discussion of how different treatments should connect. For patients needing a prolonged course or repeated reassessment, collaboration helps bring decisions at different stages into one plan.

Colorectal cancer: long-term evidence for robotic surgery

The REAL randomized trial led by Jianmin Xu’s team, published in JAMA in 2025, reported three-year locoregional recurrence of 1.6% after robotic surgery versus 4.0% after laparoscopic surgery for middle and low rectal cancer. These multicenter results connect precise pelvic surgery with a long-term outcome patients care about: local cancer control.

For colorectal cancer with liver metastases, colorectal surgeons, liver surgeons and medical oncologists plan treatment for both sites, including simultaneous or staged operations and systemic therapy.

Digestive medical oncology and clinical research

Tianshu Liu and the medical oncology team focus on esophageal, gastric, colorectal, biliary and pancreatic cancers, with clinical research in chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy. Their work includes perioperative systemic treatment, metastatic disease and treatment-related side effects.

The service works alongside digestive surgery, endoscopy, imaging and pathology. For previously treated disease, pathology, molecular results and a full treatment timeline help frame further options and possible study eligibility.

Thoracic surgery: esophageal and lung cancer

Zhongshan has longstanding experience in minimally invasive esophageal and lung cancer surgery. Lijie Tan’s team has studied neoadjuvant treatment followed by minimally invasive esophagectomy, connecting response assessment with operative and perioperative decisions.

Esophageal treatment also affects swallowing, nutrition and respiratory recovery. Thoracic surgery, anesthesia and medical services contribute to planning across the full course of care.

Cardiovascular expertise and complex medical care

Cardiovascular medicine is a defining strength of Zhongshan. Academician Junbo Ge and the cardiovascular team have longstanding work in intervention, heart failure and translational research. Together with liver, digestive, kidney and critical care services, this provides a broad foundation for complex patients.

Patients with cancer and significant heart or kidney disease may need these specialties involved in assessment of operative risk and treatment tolerance.

Jia Fan, Jian Zhou and the liver cancer team

Conversion treatment and complex liver cancer surgery

The team’s distinctive focus is reassessing surgery after drug treatment for liver cancer that is difficult to resect initially. Fan and Zhou coauthored prospective research on immunotherapy plus anti-angiogenic treatment followed by resection, and led the 2024 Chinese conversion and perioperative treatment consensus. This is particularly relevant when tumor extent, vascular involvement or limited liver reserve complicates a surgical decision.

Jianmin Xu

Robotic surgery for middle and low rectal cancer

Xu’s team led REAL, a multicenter randomized comparison of robotic and laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery. The 2025 JAMA report found 3-year locoregional recurrence rates of 1.6% and 4.0%, respectively. His focus is relevant to surgical margins and difficult pelvic dissection in middle or low rectal cancer. These are trial-wide results, not an individual surgeon’s success rate.

Pinghong Zhou

Endoscopic tumor removal and organ preservation

Selected tumors arising deep in the stomach wall may be removable without a partial gastrectomy. As first author, Zhou reported a 26-patient series of endoscopic full-thickness resection without laparoscopic assistance in 2011; 16 tumors were gastrointestinal stromal tumors. His technical experience is relevant when a lesion’s size, location and growth pattern may permit endoscopic removal.

Yihong Sun and the gastric cancer surgery team

Minimally invasive curative surgery for gastric cancer

Sun was senior author of CLASS02, a randomized comparison of laparoscopic and open total gastrectomy for clinical stage I gastric cancer, published in JAMA Oncology. The study addresses whether a minimally invasive approach can maintain surgical safety alongside appropriate lymph-node dissection. His focus is relevant when total gastrectomy is needed and the surgical approach and nutritional recovery must be planned together.

Tianshu Liu

Later-line treatment for advanced gastric cancer

Liu co-led OASIS, a phase II study of nivolumab plus anlotinib after previous treatment for advanced gastric or esophageal cancer; 45 of its 48 participants had gastric cancer. Her distinct focus is identifying further systemic options after progression. This was a study without a control group, so treatment selection still requires the prior treatment history, molecular results and the wider evidence.

Costs & payment

Ask what the hospital estimate includes, deposits, additional charges and refund arrangements. Plan travel and living costs separately. Insurance coverage and direct billing require confirmation.

Language & records

Confirm interpreting for appointments, communication during treatment and the language of records. Our China coordination includes Chinese and English support; other languages need advance confirmation of availability and arrangements.

Campus, accommodation & caregivers

Consultations, tests and admission may take place at different sites. Distance, accessibility, caregiver rules and follow-up frequency all affect the itinerary and should be considered once the clinical plan is clearer.

Length of stay & returning home

Assessment, surgery, radiotherapy and cellular treatment have different schedules. Ask the hospital for the expected course, allowing for results and changes in the plan. Confirm readiness to return home with the clinical team.

Make your history easier to review

Organise treatments and key reports, help with necessary translation and bring the important questions to the clinician.

Find the appropriate clinical service

Enquire with the relevant specialty, follow up on record requirements and help clarify acceptance and appointments.

Coordinate the practical steps in China

Within the agreed scope, help with visa documentation, travel, arrival transport, accommodation and accompaniment.

Keep communication connected

Help organise consultation feedback, records for home and follow-up requirements, with continued contact as agreed.

Can I request a surgical opinion after an arterial treatment?

You can request that assessment. Include the type and date of each procedure, scans before and after treatment, and recent liver tests. The team needs to judge tumour extent, response and liver reserve together; shrinkage alone does not establish that an operation is possible.

Can I request one of the specialists featured here?

Tell us your preference and we can help enquire. The hospital confirms acceptance, the specialist’s involvement and who provides outpatient or inpatient care. It may also recommend another suitable clinician within the specialty.

Can I contact Chirona before choosing a hospital?

Yes. Share the diagnosis, treatment history and the decision you need help with. We can organise the questions to consider when comparing hospitals and explain the coordination available.

Does submitting records confirm treatment?

Submitting records starts the assessment. The hospital must confirm acceptance and clinical suitability and may require more information or in-person tests. Appointment confirmation, the treatment plan and costs should be clarified separately.