National Launch of Integrated Care Centers for Breast and Ovarian Cancer to Advance Standardized Diagnosis and Treatment for Women’s Cancers in China

On November 30, the Integrated Diagnosis and Treatment Center for Breast and Ovarian Cancers was officially launched at the inaugural AstraZeneca Women’s Oncology Summit. This initiative aims to provide patients in China with breast or ovarian cancer a comprehensive, end-to-end care pathway encompassing screening, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up, thereby helping to elevate the overall standard of diagnosis and treatment for women’s cancers in China.

Breast Cancer and Ovarian Cancer Pose Serious Threats to Women’s Health; Standardized Diagnosis and Treatment Remain a Daunting Challenge

As the most common gynecological malignancies, breast cancer and ovarian cancer pose a serious threat to the physical and mental health of women in China. According to the "2019 National Cancer Report" released by the National Cancer Center, the incidence of breast cancer in China ranks first among all malignant tumors in women. More alarmingly, the incidence rate of breast cancer is rising rapidly; from 2000 to 2013, the average annual growth rate of breast cancer patients in China was 3.5%, the highest in the world. In fact, breast cancer is currently one of the solid tumors with the highest cure rate and longest survival time. With standardized treatment, the 5-year survival rate for early-stage breast cancer can exceed 85%. However, due to insufficient screening coverage, the need for improved diagnostic efficiency, and irregular patient follow-up, there is still a long way to go in the prevention, control, and standardized diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer in China.

Ovarian cancer, the “silent killer” of women, inflicts severe devastation on patients and their families. Due to the concealed anatomical location of the ovaries, the absence of specific symptoms, and the lack of effective screening methods, nearly 70% of patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Ovarian cancer is highly aggressive, with its recurrence and mortality rates ranking highest among gynecologic tumors; over 70% of patients experience recurrence within three years, and the five-year survival rate is only 39%. Furthermore, approximately 23% of ovarian cancer cases are associated with genetic mutations. Early screening and diagnosis, standardized treatment, and proactive follow-up management have become paramount to improving the outcomes of ovarian cancer care.

Launch of the Integrated Diagnosis and Treatment Center for Breast and Ovarian Cancers: A Boon for Standardized Care in Female Malignancies

To effectively prevent and control breast and ovarian cancers, address pain points in the diagnosis and treatment process for both patients and healthcare providers, and achieve standardized diagnosis and treatment of female tumors, the Integrated Diagnosis and Treatment Center for Breast and Ovarian Cancers has been launched through collaborative efforts. The center provides patients with an integrated care pathway covering the entire disease management journey, including screening, diagnosis and treatment, follow-up, psychological support, and rehabilitation management. Furthermore, tailored diagnostic and therapeutic protocols are developed based on the distinct characteristics of breast and ovarian cancers, offering patients more convenient, precise, and personalized integrated solutions.

Among these initiatives, the Breast Cancer Integrated Diagnosis and Treatment Center will be established as a specialized platform covering the entire continuum of care, including screening, diagnosis, follow-up, and patient communication. The center will conduct public education on breast cancer, promoting awareness of “early screening and early diagnosis.” In collaboration with hospitals, it will advance the development of screening networks by deploying mobile screening units (“screening caravans”) to bring resources closer to communities, workplaces, and healthcare facilities, thereby enhancing accessibility for women and improving screening efficiency. In clinical practice, the center will prioritize both diagnostic and treatment efficiency and patients’ psychological needs. Furthermore, it will support patient recovery through standardized follow-up systems and AI-enabled follow-up mechanisms.

In response, Professor Xu Binghe, Director of the Department of Medical Oncology at the National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, stated, “Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women, ranking first in incidence among female cancers and posing the greatest threat to women’s health. Improving the therapeutic outcomes of breast cancer remains a significant and long-term challenge. On one hand, it is essential to standardize breast cancer treatment in China; on the other hand, comprehensive, whole-process management is required—not only during the active disease phase but also throughout long-term survivorship—ultimately enabling breast cancer patients to live longer and better lives.”

The Integrated Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Center will be established as a comprehensive platform offering multi-functional, whole-disease-course management, covering disease screening, genetic risk counseling, gynecologic oncology outpatient services, surgery and postoperative adjuvant therapy, as well as follow-up visits. At the center, clinical screening packages tailored to Chinese patients provide screening risk assessments and recommendations for screening frequency. The ovarian cancer genetic counseling clinic offers systematic, science-based prevention and management plans for high-risk populations. The gynecologic oncology outpatient clinic delivers individualized treatment plans through standardized diagnostic procedures and precise pathological evaluation. During the rehabilitation phase, a digital platform is utilized to ensure the quality and effectiveness of follow-up care.

Professor Lin Zhongqiu, Director of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Director of the Gynecologic Oncology Specialty at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital (the Second Affiliated Hospital) of Sun Yat-sen University, stated, “For a long time, ovarian cancer, with its high recurrence and mortality rates, has posed a serious threat to the health of women in China. Only through standardized and precise diagnosis and treatment at every stage—from prevention, screening, and outpatient care to treatment, rehabilitation, and follow-up—can we achieve tangible and effective results in the ‘critical battle’ against ovarian cancer. This is precisely the original intention behind establishing the Integrated Diagnosis and Treatment Center for Ovarian Cancer: to leverage this platform to comprehensively improve the standardization of ovarian cancer diagnosis and treatment across China, thereby benefiting more female patients.”

AstraZeneca, always committed to supporting the integrated diagnosis and treatment of female cancers, is thrilled to witness the nationwide launch of integrated centers for breast and ovarian cancer care. Ms. Yin Min, General Manager of AstraZeneca China’s Oncology Business Unit, stated, “On the path to establishing integrated diagnosis and treatment models for female cancers such as breast and ovarian cancer, we will continue to provide comprehensive support to all stakeholders. Looking ahead, we will remain ‘patient-centric,’ leveraging resource integration and model innovation to deliver more innovative, whole-course solutions for patients. Meanwhile, we will collaborate with all parties to enhance the standardization of diagnosis and treatment for female cancers, promote the decentralization of high-quality medical resources, and contribute to achieving the strategic goals of ‘Healthy China 2030.’”