2023 Roche Oncology Forum Successfully Held, Advancing High-Quality Development in Cancer Prevention and Treatment

ShanghaiJuly 16, 2023PR Newswire -- As a high-level academic conference that has garnered significant attention in the industry, the 2023 Roche Oncology Summit was successfully held in Shanghai. Themed "With Roche, for a Better Future," this summit brought together senior experts, scholars, and industry partners from various fields of oncology both in China and abroad. Focusing on cutting-edge research and treatment trends in oncology, discussions delved into new international advancements, information, and concepts across hematological tumors, breast cancer, gastrointestinal tumors, lung cancer, and personalized medicine. The aim is to collaboratively enhance the quality of oncology diagnosis and treatment in China, providing better innovative solutions and treatment experiences for Chinese cancer patients.

Multi-dimensional Improvement, Sprinting Towards a Healthy China2030

In the sections related to the prevention and treatment of major diseases in the "Healthy China 2030" Planning Outline and the State Council's Opinions on Implementing the Healthy China Action, it was proposed that by 2030, the overall five-year survival rate for cancer in China should be no less than 46.6%. Through the joint efforts of the government, experts and scholars, pharmaceutical companies, and people from all sectors of society, significant achievements have been made in China’s cancer prevention and treatment work, with a preliminary system for cancer prevention and control established: according to authoritative data, between 2003 and 2015, the five-year survival rate of patients with malignant tumors in China increased by nearly 10 percentage points, but there is still a certain gap from the target of 46.6%.

Xu Binghe, Professor at the Cancer Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering"In the speech, it was pointed out: 'Malignant tumors are a category of diseases that seriously threaten human health. In the past 20 years, with the development of the economy in China, advancements in technology, support from policies, the enhancement of pharmaceutical enterprises' R&D capabilities, and continuous updates in precision treatment methods, the survival time of patients with malignant tumors has been continuously extended, and their quality of life has also improved. However, there are still many unmet needs in the treatment of malignant tumors, and many treatment bottlenecks remain to be overcome. To this end, we need to strengthen cooperation and exchanges.'"Asian Oncology Alliance (FACO）Chairman, Professor Li Jin from Oriental Hospital, Tongji UniversityIt was pointed out: "The incidence of cancer in China is still on the rise, with a heavy disease burden against the backdrop of an aging population, and the overall situation for prevention and control remains severe. The prevention and treatment of malignant tumors has been elevated to a national strategy, with multiple policies issued at the national level encouraging innovation and development in the anti-tumor field."International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (Prof. Cai-Cun Zhou, the incoming Chairman of IASLC, and Professor at Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine"Innovative tumor diagnosis and treatment methods, along with advanced therapeutic concepts, can truly provide doctors and patients with confidence in the fight against cancer. The Roche Oncology High-end Forum serves as a platform to enhance communication and exchange of ideas, boosting efforts in the oncology field towards the Healthy China 2030 goals."Professor Depei Wu, Director of the Hematology Society of the Chinese Medical Association and First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySpeaking: "The main reason for the low overall survival rate of lymphoma in China lies in the urgent need to improve the standardized diagnosis and treatment levels for lymphoma at the vast number of grassroots medical institutions. To address this, it is recommended that high-quality medical resources be appropriately decentralized, while strengthening the effective operation of a two-way referral system. Additionally, the widespread application of new drugs and treatment regimens, along with continuously improving doctor-patient cooperation, will greatly enhance the clinical outcomes for patients."

Thick Accumulation, Thin Emission: The Road of Innovation Blossoms with Flowers

As an innovation-focused enterprise, Roche has been deeply engaged in the oncology field for 60 years, introducing many groundbreaking drugs.Chief Medical Officer and Head of Global Drug Development at Roche GroupDr. Levi GarrawayMentioned Roche's five strategic pillars in the field of oncology, including precision medicine, innovative immunotherapy, rational combination strategies, diverse treatment modalities, and early diagnosis and treatment. Hoping to collaborate with Chinese experts to bring more curative options to cancer patients. Source: A subsidiary of Roche.Dr. Ye Xin, Senior Principal Researcher of Genentech Research and Early DevelopmentIntroduced the progress of Roche in the early R&D field to the experts present, addressing inherent and acquired resistance issues by directly targeting oncogenes, expanding selective tumor targeting through various applicable drug modalities, and developing novel combination therapies to meet the treatment needs of different patients.

At the same time, the attending guests also shared their experiences with the clinical application of new technologies and concepts.Professor Xing Baocai from Peking University Cancer HospitalSays: "Immunotherapy has achieved remarkable results in the treatment of various tumors and continues to demonstrate immense potential. Nevertheless, immunotherapy is constantly seeking innovation and breakthroughs. Whether it’s new immune checkpoint pathways, cancer vaccines, oncolytic viruses, or novel CAR-T immune strategies, all will continue to shine under the drive of innovation."Professor Yonghong Zhang from Beijing You'an Hospital, Capital Medical University, based on his six years of research findingsPreaches: "Immune checkpoint inhibitors can prevent recurrence after liver cancer ablation. Immunotherapy is a major breakthrough in the field of adjuvant treatment for liver cancer, and an in-depth exploration of its mechanism will better benefit precise diagnosis and treatment for liver cancer patients, improving their long-term survival prognosis." With the accumulation of evidence-based data, the path of innovation has yielded fruitful results.Professor Ning Zhang, International Cancer Research Institute of Peking UniversityIntroduced the exploration of his laboratory in precision diagnosis and treatment, such as the origin and molecular subtyping of mixed hepatocellular carcinoma, identifying five types of immunological microenvironment subtypes through single-cell sequencing, and research on organoids, all of which help guide clinical medication.

Joining Hands from China to the World

In recent years, the achievements of Chinese experts have been increasingly seen on the international academic stage, with China's voice being heard more frequently, and even rewriting international guidelines. The reason behind this is...Professor Xichun Hu from the Tumor Hospital Affiliated to Fudan UniversitySharing the insight: "With the rapid advancements in molecular biology, genomics, and bioinformatics, we are now able to gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms behind tumor initiation and progression. Against this backdrop, doctors in China, with the support of various forces, are driving innovation and have opened up entirely new breakthroughs on the path of translational medicine, transforming major scientific discoveries into diagnostic and therapeutic methods that benefit patients."

Ms. Bian Xin, President of Roche Pharmaceuticals ChinaStated: "In addition to persisting in innovative breakthroughs, Roche is also exploring collaborations in broader fields. We hope to join hands with Chinese doctors and local innovative forces, empower each other bidirectionally, grow together, and let China's innovation lead the world!"