Zhang Yu

JeniZhang13@163.com

THE beginning of construction of the first public proton therapy center in South China has been announced for Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenzhen Center. A groundbreaking ceremony was held in Longgang District on Saturday.

As one of the 12 major projects concerning people’s livelihoods in Shenzhen, the proton therapy center is expected to be completed in 2023 and to bring first-class medical services that are on par with Western standards to cancer patients in early 2024.

Shenzhen Mayor Chen Rugui announced the opening of the project, and He Jie, academician and head of Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Executive Vice Mayor Liu Qingsheng and Vice Mayor Wu Yihuan attended the groundbreaking ceremony.

According to He, the proton therapy center project has purchased proton equipment representing the world’s most advanced level in accordance with Shenzhen’s development and investment plan.

The completion of the proton therapy center will greatly enhance the core competitiveness of the Shenzhen cancer center and help it become a state-of-the-art cancer treatment center in South China and even the Asia Pacific region.

The project mainly includes a 13-story building for proton therapy, with a total construction area of 35,062 square meters. The proton therapy center plans to have 300 beds.

Total investment in the project is around 1.64 billion yuan (US$234.35 million), including 860 million yuan for proton therapy systems and supporting medical equipment.

According to Wang Lyuhua, head of the Shenzhen cancer center, proton therapy refers to a radiation therapy that uses energy from positively charged particles to treat tumors. It is a recommended option with proven results for treating many types of tumors and cancers.

“The advantages of proton therapy lie in its accuracy, minimal side effects and good efficacy in destroying cancer cells. The high-energy proton beam precisely conforms to the shape of the tumor, resulting in less damage to the healthy surrounding tissue, Wang told reporters.

Clinical data show that proton therapy systems are satisfactory in both safety and the local control rate of tumors. After proton therapy, the five-year survival rate of patients with early-stage lung cancer, liver cancer and prostate cancer can reach 55 percent, 67 percent and 93 percent, respectively.

Four proton therapy centers had been put into service in China as of Oct. 21, 2019, with another 24 under construction.

With the launch of the proton therapy center and the first and second phases of the expansion project, the total construction area of the Shenzhen cancer center will reach 428,500 square meters and the total number of beds will reach 2,300.