Abstract

Zhongzhen Guan
Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, China

Cancer is the leading cause of death in mainland China, ranks 1st in urban and 2nd in rural areas. Medical Oncology, a subspecialty of internal medicine, has been developed quite quickly in the recent 20 years. At this time, in addition to some academic cancer centers affiliated to universities or national research institutions, at least 1 comprehensive cancer center has been established in each province all equipped with a specific chemotherapy service.

National Society of cancer chemotherapy was also established under CACA (Chinese Anti-Cancer Association), with branch societies of provincial or municipal level, these societies frequently organize academic conferences and various types of continued medical educational activities.

The Chinese State FDA gradually standardizes drug administration including anticancer drugs. Usually any new drug before registering or marketing in China need to complete clinical trials (or a confirmatory clinical trial in Chinese patients if the drug has been approved for marketing in a foreign country). Clinical trials should be carried out by a designated institution and by qualified investigators. The SFDA recently published some instruction documents like and etc.

In recent years, most of the newly developed anticancer drugs has been introduced and marked in China. To mention a few, they include Gemcitabine, Paclitaxel, Docetaxel, Irinotecan, Topotecan, Oxaliplatin, Capecitabine, Mabthera, Herceptin, Gefetinib, Erlotinib, Erbitux, Gleevec, Letrazol, Arimidex, Exmestrene, Abraxane, Capxol, etc. The clinical trials and therapeutic use of these newly invented anticancer drugs greatly improve the quality of cancer patient care in China and promoted the international academic exchange and co-operation.

At the same time, Chinese scientists and pharmaceuticals are working very hard in drug discovery and developments. Chinese scientists made contributions in study of Camptothecins, Harringtonin and Homoharringtonin, ATRA in M3 Leukemic, Arsenics in Leukemia and recently some Gene therapy products showed potential benefits. We are expecting more close collaborating with our Hongkong colleagues and try to make better progress in the coming years.