Overview
Digestive system tumors refer to malignant tumors that arise in any organ of the digestive tract—from the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, rectum, and anus to the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas. Common types include esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, liver cancer, and pancreatic cancer.
These tumors are associated with multiple risk factors, such as genetic susceptibility, chronic inflammation, dietary habits, lifestyle, infections (e.g., Helicobacter pylori, hepatitis B/C viruses), and environmental influences. At the molecular level, digestive system tumor development is closely linked to abnormalities in genes and signaling pathways. When tumor-suppressor genes lose their function or growth-promoting pathways become overactive, cells may proliferate uncontrollably and gradually form tumors.
Symptoms vary depending on the tumor’s location and may include difficulty swallowing, indigestion, abdominal discomfort, altered bowel habits, jaundice, weight loss, and progressive fatigue. Importantly, early-stage disease is often asymptomatic, resulting in many patients being diagnosed at advanced stages. Regular screening and early detection are therefore essential to improving outcomes.
Treatment Options
With the introduction of targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and other innovations, treatment strategies continue to evolve. The goals now extend beyond prolonging survival to improving quality of life.
Surgery
The standard approach for localized tumors. Minimally invasive surgical techniques have significantly reduced perioperative complications and hospital stays. For some patients, combining surgery with systemic treatments (neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy) can increase resection rates and improve long-term control.
Chemotherapy
A key treatment for advanced or unresectable tumors. Chemotherapy helps shrink tumors, relieve symptoms, and extend survival. Toxicity management and supportive care are essential for maintaining quality of life.
Radiation Therapy
Used both as curative treatment in selected indications and for controlling symptoms such as pain, bleeding, or obstruction. Advanced technologies such as IMRT and SBRT improve precision and reduce harm to surrounding tissues. For certain cancers, concurrent chemoradiotherapy further enhances local control.
Targeted Therapy
For tumors that harbor actionable molecular targets (e.g., HER2, EGFR), targeted therapies provide important treatment options. Genetic testing helps identify tumor molecular features and guides personalized drug selection, offering new opportunities for patients with advanced or recurrent disease.
Immunotherapy
A major area of research in digestive system tumors.
- Immune checkpoint inhibitors (PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors): Beneficial for patients with specific molecular characteristics. Ongoing studies are exploring combination strategies with chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and radiation to enhance efficacy and durability.
- Cellular immunotherapy (CAR-T, TCR-T, TILs): Harnesses or engineers a patient’s immune cells to fight cancer. Currently conducted at specialized medical centers, with expanding clinical applications.
Why Choose GoBroad?
GoBroad’s expert team is dedicated to solving the complex challenges of digestive system tumors. Beyond common cancers such as gastric, colorectal, liver, and pancreatic cancers, the team also manages rare diseases including neuroendocrine tumors. They have led and advanced the approval of dozens of innovative digestive oncology drugs in China and globally, consistently shaping the forefront of clinical research and treatment.
In cellular immunotherapy, GoBroad specialists conducted the world’s first randomized controlled CAR-T study in solid tumors and achieved the world’s first positive CAR-T clinical result in gastric cancer, providing the first evidence of CAR-T efficacy in solid tumors. This breakthrough marks a “zero-to-one” milestone and brings new hope to patients lacking effective treatment options.
At GoBroad, you will receive:
- Access to cutting-edge clinical trials
Targeting classic biomarkers such as HER2 and BRAF, as well as emerging targets such as CLDN18.2 and FGFR2b. Patients gain opportunities to join global synchronized studies and access innovative therapies early.
- Innovative biotechnology
Including world-leading TIL therapy, organoid-on-chip technologies, and more—offering new strategies for patients who do not benefit from standard treatments or have relapsed/refractory disease.
- High accessibility to new drugs
Rapid introduction of new therapies ensures patients receive validated advanced treatments as early as possible, avoiding delays that could reduce treatment effectiveness.
- Precision radiation therapy
Equipped with advanced systems such as Accuray TOMO, Varian VitalBeam, and GE radiotherapy-planning CT. Personalized radiation plans allow precise tumor targeting while protecting normal tissues to reduce side effects and improve tolerance.
- Minimally invasive surgery
For early or localized tumors, minimally invasive approaches preserve organ function, reduce trauma, shorten recovery, and enable faster return to daily life. Digital integrated operating rooms allow real-time imaging and improved surgical precision and safety.
Our Achievements
GoBroad’s digestive oncology team leads nationally and internationally:
- Led hundreds of clinical trials covering targeted therapies (EGFR, C-MET, HER2), anti-angiogenic agents, bispecific antibodies, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and CAR-T therapies—contributing to the successful approval of dozens of innovative drugs worldwide.
- Actively participated in revising key clinical guidelines such as NCCN, ESMO, and Japanese/Korean guidelines, and led CSCO guideline updates for many years—bringing Chinese clinical insights to global practice.
Global Academic Milestones
- Professor Li Jin became the first Chinese expert to deliver an oral presentation at ASCO in digestive oncology, marking a historic milestone for China on the global stage.
- Professor Shen Lin’s team completed the world’s first randomized controlled CAR-T study in solid tumors and achieved the world’s first positive CAR-T result in gastric cancer—bringing new hope to patients with refractory disease worldwide.
The efficacy data are derived from published studies and GoBroad Healthcare Group’s long-term follow-up results. For medical reference only. Individual outcomes may vary depending on disease type and treatment plan. Please consult with a qualified physician for a personalized treatment strategy.
Patient Stories
على مدى عدة سنوات، خضعت السيدة تشين لعلاجات متعددة لسرطان المعدة المتقدم، شملت الجراحة والعلاج الكيميائي والعلاج المناعي. وقد ساعدت هذه العلاجات في السيطرة على المرض خلال مراحل مختلفة، إلا أن الورم واصل التقدم لاحقًا، وأصبحت الخيارات العلاجية المتاحة أكثر محدودية.
بحلول أواخر عام 2024، كان وضعها الصحي قد تدهور بشكل ملحوظ. فقد عانت من انسداد معوي وانتشار للمرض في الصفاق واستسقاء الكلية، إضافة إلى استسقاء شديد ويرقان. وأصبح تناول الطعام بصورة طبيعية شبه مستحيل، مما استدعى الاعتماد بدرجة كبيرة على التغذية الوريدية.
لكن نتيجة ظهرت في فحص سابق للورم اكتسبت أهمية خاصة فيما بعد: كان الورم سلبيًا لـ HER2 وإيجابيًا لـ CLDN18.2.
ومع ظهور خيارات علاجية جديدة تستهدف CLDN18.2 في عام 2025، أصبح هذا المؤشر الحيوي أساسًا للنظر في فرصة علاجية أخرى.
تشخيص أكثر تقدمًا مما كان متوقعًا
كانت السيدة تشين في الأربعين من عمرها عندما تم تشخيصها في يناير 2022.
كانت تعاني منذ فترة من آلام متكررة في المعدة، ومع تزايد الأعراض خضعت لتنظير المعدة. وفي البداية، بدا التغير الموجود في جدار المعدة محدودًا نسبيًا، ولذلك أوصى الأطباء بالتدخل الجراحي.
إلا أن الصورة تغيرت أثناء العملية. فقد أظهر الفحص المرضي أثناء الجراحة أن نطاق الورم أوسع بكثير مما كان متوقعًا، مع استمرار وجود خلايا ورمية عند حواف الاستئصال، مما استدعى في النهاية إجراء استئصال كامل للمعدة.
وأكد الفحص المرضي بعد الجراحة وجود سرطان غدي منخفض التمايز في المعدة مع نقائل بعيدة.
كما أظهر الورم نمط نمو ارتشاحيًا منتشرًا، يُعرف أحيانًا باسم linitis plastica. وفي هذا النوع من سرطان المعدة قد تبدو الإصابة الظاهرة على سطح الغشاء المخاطي محدودة، بينما يمتد الورم على نطاق أوسع داخل جدار المعدة.
ورغم الجراحة والعلاجات اللاحقة، استمر المرض في التقدم.
عندما أصبح CLDN18.2 ذا أهمية علاجية
أظهرت الفحوص المناعية النسيجية أن الورم سلبي لـ HER2 وإيجابي لـ CLDN18.2.
يُعد CLDN18.2 أحد بروتينات الوصلات المحكمة الموجودة بصورة رئيسية في الخلايا المتمايزة للغشاء المخاطي للمعدة. وفي الأنسجة الطبيعية يكون هذا البروتين إلى حد كبير غير متاح على سطح الخلية. لكن مع التحول الخبيث واضطراب البنية الطبيعية للأنسجة، قد يصبح CLDN18.2 مكشوفًا على سطح الخلايا السرطانية، مما يجعله هدفًا محتملًا للعلاج.
أصبح CLDN18.2 اليوم من المؤشرات الحيوية ذات الأهمية المتزايدة في العلاج الدقيق لسرطان المعدة. إلا أن النتيجة الإيجابية التي ظهرت لدى السيدة تشين في عام 2022 لم تكن تعني في ذلك الوقت وجود علاج موجّه متاح ومناسب لها.
لذلك تلقت علاجًا كيميائيًا بالتزامن مع العلاج المناعي. واستطاع هذا النهج السيطرة على المرض لمدة تقل عن عام، قبل أن يتوقف العلاج المناعي بعد إصابتها بالتهاب رئوي مرتبط بالمناعة.
بعد ذلك، بدأ وضعها الصحي في التراجع بصورة واضحة.
وبحلول أبريل 2024، ظهرت لديها مضاعفات شملت الانسداد المعوي وانتشار المرض في الصفاق وتضيّق الحالب واستسقاء الكلية. كما أصيبت باستسقاء شديد ويرقان، ووصل مستوى البيليروبين في مرحلة معينة إلى نحو 300 ميكرومول/لتر. ولم تعد قادرة تقريبًا على تناول الطعام بشكل طبيعي.
البحث عن فرصة علاجية أخرى
واصل زوجها متابعة التطورات المرتبطة بـ CLDN18.2.
ومن خلال مجتمعات المرضى، علم بعمل فريق البروفيسور تشو جون، نائب الرئيس الطبي ومدير قسم أورام الجهاز الهضمي في Shanghai GoBroad Cancer Hospital، التابعة لـ China Pharmaceutical University وجزء من GoBroad Healthcare Group (GoBroad).
التقى الزوجان بالبروفيسور تشو للمرة الأولى في ديسمبر 2024.
في ذلك الوقت، كان وزن السيدة تشين يزيد قليلًا على 30 كيلوغرامًا، وكانت قدرتها على الحركة محدودة للغاية، كما كانت تعاني من انسداد معوي غير كامل. ولم تسمح حالتها الصحية بالمشاركة في الدراسة السريرية التي كان يجري النظر فيها آنذاك.
مع ذلك، واصل الفريق تقييم الخيارات الممكنة ومتابعة حالتها عن كثب.
وفي أوائل عام 2025، أصبح خيار علاجي جديد لسرطان المعدة الإيجابي لـ CLDN18.2 متاحًا. وبعد تقييم شامل للحالة وترتيبات سريرية مناسبة، بدأت السيدة تشين في فبراير 2025 علاجًا موجّهًا يستهدف CLDN18.2.
خطة علاج مصممة وفق حالة المريضة
لم يكن العثور على علاج محتمل سوى جزء من التحدي.
فقد أدت سنوات المرض والعلاجات السابقة واستئصال المعدة الكامل وسوء الحالة التغذوية إلى تقليل قدرتها على تحمّل جدول علاجي تقليدي.
لذلك وضع فريق البروفيسور تشو خطة علاج فردية استنادًا إلى حالة الورم، والعلاجات السابقة، والوضع البدني العام للمريضة. كما تم تعديل إيقاع العلاج وفق الاستجابة والقدرة على التحمل، مع التركيز على السيطرة على الآثار الجانبية وتقديم الدعم التغذوي المناسب.
وبدأت بعض التحسينات السريرية في الظهور خلال فترة قصيرة نسبيًا.
فبعد ما يزيد قليلًا على أسبوع من بدء العلاج، بدأت وظيفة الأمعاء في التحسن. ومع تراجع حجم الآفات في الجهاز الهضمي، انخفضت تدريجيًا أعراض الانسداد والألم.
وبعد الانتهاء من الدورة العلاجية الثانية في مارس، أصبحت قادرة على تناول بعض الأطعمة شبه السائلة، إضافة إلى كميات صغيرة من اللحم والروبيان المفروم جيدًا.
وبالنسبة لمريضة كانت قد فقدت تقريبًا القدرة على تناول الطعام بصورة طبيعية، مثّلت هذه التغيرات تحسنًا مهمًا في وظائف الحياة اليومية.
أهمية فحوص المؤشرات الحيوية
توضح تجربة السيدة تشين أيضًا كيف تتغير أهمية المؤشرات الحيوية في علاج سرطان المعدة مع تطور الخيارات العلاجية.
فعندما تم اكتشاف إيجابية CLDN18.2 للمرة الأولى، لم يكن هناك علاج موجّه متاح لها مباشرة. وبعد عدة سنوات، أصبحت النتيجة نفسها ذات صلة بقرار علاجي جديد.
ومع استمرار تطور الطب الدقيق، يمكن لفحص HER2 وCLDN18.2 وغيرهما من المؤشرات الحيوية ذات الصلة أن يساعد الأطباء على تحديد الاستراتيجيات العلاجية التي قد تكون أكثر ملاءمة لكل مريض.
ولهذا أصبحت دقة الاختبارات الجزيئية والمناعية النسيجية جزءًا متزايد الأهمية من تخطيط علاج سرطان المعدة المتقدم.
استعادة جزء من الحياة اليومية
بحلول ديسمبر 2025، كانت تفاصيل الحياة اليومية للسيدة تشين مختلفة كثيرًا عما كانت عليه قبل عام.
في أحد الصباحات بالمستشفى، طلبت تناول بعض الفطائر الصغيرة الساخنة. أحضر زوجها ست قطع، وتمكنت من تناول أربع منها ببطء.
قد يبدو ذلك إفطارًا عاديًا، لكنه بالنسبة إلى شخص كان تناول الطعام الطبيعي شبه مستحيل بالنسبة له قبل أشهر، كان مؤشرًا عمليًا على استعادة جزء من القدرة على ممارسة الحياة اليومية.
لا تزال رحلة العلاج والمتابعة الطبية مستمرة، كما أن تقييم النتائج على المدى الطويل يحتاج إلى متابعة مستمرة. ومع ذلك، سمح تحسن حالتها للزوجين بالعودة إلى مناقشة بعض الخطط التي كانا قد أجلاها، ومنها السفر معًا عندما تسمح حالتها الصحية بذلك.
وتعكس تجربتها تطورًا أوسع في علاج سرطان المعدة: فمع ظهور أهداف علاجية جديدة، يمكن للفحص المناسب للمؤشرات الحيوية والتقييم السريري الفردي أن يوفرا خيارات إضافية لبعض المرضى عندما تصبح العلاجات السابقة محدودة.
تعكس هذه القصة تجربة علاجية فردية لمريضة واحدة، وقد تختلف الاستجابة للعلاج والنتائج من شخص إلى آخر. ويجب اتخاذ القرارات العلاجية بناءً على تقييم طبي شامل من قبل مختصين مؤهلين.
For several years, Ms. Chen had been living with advanced gastric cancer. Surgery, chemotherapy and immunotherapy had helped at different stages, but the disease eventually progressed and her treatment options became increasingly limited.
By late 2024, her condition had deteriorated significantly. She was experiencing intestinal obstruction, peritoneal metastases, hydronephrosis, severe ascites and jaundice. Eating had become extremely difficult, and she relied largely on intravenous nutritional support.
Yet one result from an earlier pathology report would later become important: her tumor was HER2-negative but CLDN18.2-positive.
In 2025, as new treatment options targeting CLDN18.2 became available, that biomarker opened another possibility.
When an Unexpected Diagnosis Changed Everything
Ms. Chen was 40 when she was diagnosed in January 2022.
She had experienced recurrent stomach discomfort for some time, but worsening pain eventually led her to undergo gastroscopy. Initial findings suggested a relatively limited lesion, and surgery was recommended.
During the operation, however, the extent of the disease proved far greater than expected. Intraoperative pathology showed persistent positive margins, and a total gastrectomy was ultimately required.
Postoperative pathology confirmed poorly differentiated gastric adenocarcinoma with distant metastasis. The disease showed features of diffuse infiltrative gastric cancer, sometimes referred to as linitis plastica, which can spread extensively within the gastric wall even when the mucosal lesion appears relatively small.
Despite surgery and subsequent treatment, the cancer continued to progress.
A Biomarker That Did Not Yet Have a Treatment Option
Molecular and immunohistochemical testing showed that Ms. Chen’s tumor was HER2-negative and CLDN18.2-positive.
CLDN18.2 is a tight-junction protein normally found in differentiated gastric mucosal cells. In healthy tissue, it is largely concealed within tight junctions. When malignant transformation disrupts the normal tissue structure, CLDN18.2 may become exposed on the surface of tumor cells, making it a potential therapeutic target.
Today, CLDN18.2 is an increasingly important biomarker in gastric cancer. But in 2022, the finding did not immediately translate into an accessible targeted treatment for Ms. Chen.
She therefore received chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy. Her disease remained controlled for less than a year before treatment had to be interrupted after she developed immune-related pneumonitis.
Her condition subsequently worsened.
By April 2024, she had developed intestinal obstruction, peritoneal metastases, ureteral narrowing and hydronephrosis. Severe ascites and jaundice followed, and at one point her bilirubin level reached approximately 300 μmol/L. She could barely eat and required intravenous nutrition.
Searching for Another Option
Ms. Chen’s husband continued to follow developments related to CLDN18.2.
Through patient communities, he learned that a team led by Professor Zhou Jun, Medical Vice President and Director of Gastrointestinal Oncology at Shanghai GoBroad Cancer Hospital, affiliated with China Pharmaceutical University and part of GoBroad Healthcare Group (GoBroad), was working with emerging approaches for gastric cancer.
The couple met Professor Zhou in December 2024.
At that time, Ms. Chen weighed just over 30 kilograms, had very limited mobility and was experiencing incomplete intestinal obstruction. Her physical condition meant that she did not meet the eligibility criteria for the clinical study then under consideration.
The therapeutic window was narrow, but the team continued to assess whether another opportunity might become available.
In early 2025, a new treatment option targeting CLDN18.2-positive gastric cancer became available. Following a comprehensive assessment and clinical coordination, Ms. Chen began CLDN18.2-targeted therapy in February.
Treatment Adapted to the Patient
For Professor Zhou's team, identifying a potential treatment was only part of the challenge.
Years of cancer-related deterioration, previous therapies, total gastrectomy and severe nutritional impairment meant that Ms. Chen was unlikely to tolerate a conventional treatment schedule easily.
The team therefore developed an individualized treatment strategy based on her disease status, previous treatment history and physical condition. The treatment schedule was adjusted according to her response and tolerance, with close attention to adverse-event management and nutritional support.
Clinical improvement began to appear relatively soon.
A little over a week after treatment started, her bowel function began to recover. As gastrointestinal lesions decreased in size, the obstruction gradually improved and her pain became less severe.
After completing the second treatment cycle in March, she was able to eat semi-liquid foods again, including small amounts of finely prepared meat and shrimp.
For someone who had previously been unable to eat normally, these were meaningful changes in everyday function.
Why Biomarker Testing Matters
Ms. Chen’s experience also illustrates how the role of biomarker testing in gastric cancer is evolving.
When her CLDN18.2-positive result was first reported, there was no immediately available targeted treatment for her. Several years later, the same biomarker became relevant to a new therapeutic decision.
As precision treatment develops, identifying HER2, CLDN18.2 and other clinically relevant biomarkers can help physicians better understand which treatment strategies may be appropriate for an individual patient.
Accurate testing is therefore becoming an increasingly important part of treatment planning for advanced gastric cancer.
Returning to Everyday Life
By December 2025, Ms. Chen's daily life looked very different from the year before.
One morning at the hospital, she asked for pan-fried buns. Her husband bought six. She sat at the table and slowly ate four of them.
It was a simple breakfast, but after months in which normal eating had been nearly impossible, it represented something much more practical: she was once again able to enjoy food and participate in ordinary daily life.
Her treatment journey continues, and long-term outcomes require ongoing clinical follow-up. For Ms. Chen and her family, however, the progress has allowed them to start discussing plans that had once been put aside—including traveling together when her condition permits.
Her experience reflects an important development in gastric cancer care: as new targets and treatment approaches emerge, timely biomarker testing and individualized clinical assessment may create additional options for selected patients, even after previous treatments have become limited.
*This patient story describes an individual treatment experience. Treatment response and outcomes vary between patients. Medical decisions should be based on a comprehensive evaluation by qualified healthcare professionals.
Dr. Yajing Zhang of GoBroad Healthcare Group (GoBroad) recently participated in a patient education health talk during Cancer Awareness Week in Jakarta, Indonesia, where she shared insights into advances in precision oncology, immunotherapy, and integrated cancer care.
During the session, Dr. Zhang delivered a presentation titled “Precision-Guided, Immunity-Reshaped, Integrated Cancer Care for Blood Cancers and Solid Tumors.” Her talk focused on current trends in personalized cancer treatment, the evolving role of immunotherapy, and integrated treatment strategies for both hematologic malignancies and solid tumors.
As cancer care continues to move toward greater precision and individualization, treatment decisions increasingly depend on a broad range of factors, including disease subtype, molecular characteristics, prior treatment history, and the patient’s overall condition. Dr. Zhang discussed how multidimensional assessment can support more individualized treatment planning, while also introducing emerging approaches such as immunotherapy and cellular therapy.
For some patients with relapsed or refractory disease, or those with limited standard treatment options, novel immune-based and cellular therapies are expanding the range of potential clinical approaches. At the same time, the integration of precision diagnostics, systemic therapies, cellular therapy, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and comprehensive supportive care is becoming an increasingly important part of modern cancer management.
The session also highlighted the importance of patient education throughout the treatment journey. Clear and accurate medical communication can help patients and families better understand their disease, treatment options, and the questions they may wish to discuss with their medical teams.
GoBroad continues to strengthen international medical exchange through academic collaboration, clinical communication, and patient education initiatives. These activities provide opportunities to share clinical experience and research progress in hematologic malignancies, solid tumors, immunotherapy, and cellular therapy with broader international audiences.
Looking ahead, GoBroad will continue to advance precision medicine, immunotherapy, and integrated cancer care while expanding international medical collaboration and patient education to better support patients from different countries and regions.
Beijing, China — On June 22, 2026, China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) approved satri-cel (satricabtagene autoleucel, CT041, Kailimei®), the world's first CAR-T cell therapy indicated for a solid tumor. The therapy is approved for patients with Claudin18.2-positive advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma, providing a new treatment option for patients with limited therapeutic alternatives.
One day after regulatory approval, Beijing GoBroad Hospital completed patient screening, pathological review, biomarker assessment, multidisciplinary evaluation, and treatment planning, issuing the first commercial prescription for CT041 in China. This rapid transition from regulatory approval to clinical implementation reflects the hospital's established expertise in cellular therapy and its integrated multidisciplinary care model.
A Patient Matched to the Approved Indication
The first recipient is a 57-year-old woman diagnosed with poorly cohesive gastric carcinoma involving the gastric body and antrum with peritoneal metastases. Despite receiving standard second-line therapy, her disease continued to progress, and conventional chemotherapy and targeted therapies no longer provided adequate disease control.
To determine eligibility for CAR-T therapy, the multidisciplinary team led by Dr. Ming Lu, Director of Gastrointestinal Oncology at Beijing GoBroad Hospital, performed comprehensive pathological reassessment and biomarker testing.
The patient's tumor demonstrated:
- HER2: 1+
- PD-L1 (22C3): CPS <1
- Claudin18.2: 2+/3+ expression in approximately 90% of tumor cells
These findings confirmed that the patient met the approved biomarker criteria for satri-cel. She was also assessed to be in suitable general condition without contraindications to CAR-T therapy.
Multidisciplinary Evaluation Supports Personalized Treatment
According to Dr. Lu's team, the patient maintained excellent treatment adherence throughout previous therapies. Following disease progression, she and her family closely monitored the clinical development of Claudin18.2-targeted CAR-T therapy while awaiting regulatory approval.
After comprehensive multidisciplinary review and standardized eligibility assessment, the team confirmed that the patient satisfied all approved treatment criteria and proceeded with the first commercial prescription of satri-cel.
Expanding Access to Cellular Therapy for Solid Tumors
The successful implementation of the first commercial CT041 treatment represents an important milestone in bringing CAR-T therapy for solid tumors into routine clinical practice in China.
Building on its experience in cellular immunotherapy and multidisciplinary cancer care, GoBroad Healthcare Group will continue expanding access to innovative cell therapies, offering new treatment opportunities for patients with advanced solid tumors who have exhausted conventional therapeutic options.
Initial Diagnosis: An Illness Disrupts Daily Life
In May 2023, Ms. T (pseudonym) collapsed at work due to sudden discomfort and was subsequently diagnosed with gastric cancer. The diagnosis shattered her regular routine. As her condition progressed, metastasis to the ovaries was detected. After undergoing first-, second-, and third-line treatments, therapeutic efficacy began to diminish, leaving her with no further drug options. Her doctors advised her to return to her hometown to rest—a period she described as a time when she "could barely see any hope."
A New Test Result Brings a Turning Point
In August 2024, Ms. T underwent surgery for ovarian tumors. Postoperative pathological tests revealed positive CLDN18.2 expression—a result that opened new therapeutic possibilities. Learning that this biomarker matched an ongoing clinical trial, she traveled to Shanghai GoBroad Cancer Hospital in September 2024. There, she was enrolled in a Phase III clinical trial on an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) for CLDN18.2-positive gastric cancer, led by Professor Jin LI as the principal investigator.
On September 11, following comprehensive evaluation and consultation by Vice President and Director of the Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Professor Zhou Jun, and the attending medical team, Ms. T signed the informed consent form, officially beginning her participation in the trial.
Response and Changes After Trial Treatment
On October 12, 2024, Ms. T received her first dose of the trial drug at the hospital. She recalled that after this initial treatment, visibly enlarged lymph nodes in her neck began to shrink. After several cycles, they became impalpable. This objective response bolstered her confidence in the treatment and renewed her hope for life.
As of now, Ms. T's tumor shows no significant progression, and her overall condition remains stable. She shared: "Thanks to the doctors' patient communication and the nurses' support, I feel respected and cared for. This treatment has restored my hope."
Medical Commentary and Significance of the Treatment
Professor Jun ZHOU summarized the case: "Gastric cancer has a high incidence in China and is characterized by treatment heterogeneity. CLDN18.2 is an important and relatively specific target found in approximately 50% of gastric cancer patients. Drugs targeting this biomarker have demonstrated promising safety and efficacy profiles."
He continued, "Ms. T, as a patient who had exhausted standard therapies, has shown disease control and improved quality of life after entering the trial. This highlights the critical value of clinical research for patients."
Looking ahead, he emphasized that the hospital will continue to be guided by patient needs, leveraging its research platform, clinical team, and academic collaborations to advance innovative drug research and translational applications.
Mr.Wang, a 55-year-old factory director, underwent surgery at a local hospital after suffering from colon cancer in 2019. The disease progressed in the second half of 2020. The patient was unable to sleep through the night due to pain and came to GHG medical center for further diagnosis and treatment. The GHG medial team provided a multidisciplinary care service(MDC) for him. The MDC was quickly initiated, and the experts from internal medicine, surgery, imaging, nutrition, and other departments carried out detailed discussions about the patient's condition. A set of combined immune and targeted treatment programs was tailored for him according to the molecular typing of the tumor, as well as the genetic test results, in combination with domestic clinical practice and international research results. Anti-tumor treatment achieved the expected response, and the pain was gradually relieved until disappeared.
"There was a new drug on the market at that time, and the doctors thought it was especially suitable for us. We were worried that it might be unavailable for me, however, it was used very soon unexpectedly. The kitchen here was very humane. I could not get used to Shanghai food, but my family could cook home dishes for me in the kitchen. Now that I've been fighting cancer for more than 4 years, it's like my second hometown here, making me feel like I'm not struggling but living for another day".
The patient,a 38-year-old Tibetan monk, is highly respected, loved and admired by the local people. In 2022, he was diagnosed with stomach cancer due to a huge tumor that almost covered the entire stomach in the local hospital, making it impossible for the patient to eat normally. After the local hospital told him that he was"inoperable", he went to GHG medical center from a great distance. The multidisciplinary care(MDC) team experts of GHG medical center finally unanimously gave the conclusion of "operable" and developed an individualized comprehensive treatment program of preoperative preparation-fine surgery-postoperative treatment. The surgery gave priority to solving the patient's feeding problem. Under the joint efforts of the MDC team, the patient gradually took food and became more and more energetic. After recovery, the patient also received multiple periods of medical anti-tumor therapy prescribed by the MDC team, and the tumor shrank significantly.
A Tibetan monk traveled to Shanghai for medical treatment. However, language, religion, and cultural differences were almost everywhere, and the difficulties and hardships experienced were unimaginable. However, the professional medical team let the Tibetan patient feel the warmth from a strange land during the treatment at GHG medical center. When the patient was discharged from the hospital, he presented the precious Hada to the medical staff with unique Tibetan etiquette and expressed his sincere gratitude.
