ShanghaiProton and Heavy Ion Center

China's first hospital offering both proton and heavy-ion therapy, advancing original particle radiotherapy research.

In 2015, Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Center became China's first medical institution to offer both proton and heavy-ion radiotherapy. Its major research areas include recurrent nasopharyngeal cancer and brain, abdominal and pelvic tumors. It led an international consensus on carbon-ion treatment for recurrent nasopharyngeal cancer and researches functional imaging-guided simultaneous integrated carbon-ion boosts for prostate cancer. Its tenth-anniversary report recorded 8,039 patients discharged after completing treatment.

Shanghai, China
Mobile in-room CT in a treatment room, shown in the hospital's 2025 tenth-anniversary report, supporting image guidance and adaptive radiotherapy.Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Center / Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University

From China's first dual-particle hospital to original techniques and international consensus

Protons and heavy ions are different radiotherapy tools. The hospital's representative experience lies in developing treatment methods, prospective studies and medical physics support around specific problems in recurrent nasopharyngeal cancer, brain tumors and prostate cancer.

China's first dual-particle clinical platform, international consensus on recurrent nasopharyngeal cancer and functional imaging-guided individualized irradiation research together define this specialist hospital.

A representative Chinese particle radiotherapy platform and original contributions

Based on the 2015 opening and 2025 tenth-anniversary institutional records; the items below describe the platform, research contributions and service volume.

Both proton and heavy-ion treatmentFirst in China

Formal operation began May 8, 2015

Carbon-ion treatment for recurrent nasopharyngeal cancerLeadership of international consensus

Original work and standards development recorded in the 2025 tenth-anniversary review

Discharged after completing particle treatment8,039 patients

Cumulative count reported at the tenth anniversary in May 2025

The cumulative number discharged after treatment is not a cure count and is not used to rank outcomes across hospitals.

Advancing recurrent nasopharyngeal cancer research into international consensus

The hospital studies carbon-ion treatment for nasopharyngeal cancer recurring after previous radiotherapy and led a related international expert consensus. A 206-patient cohort published in 2020 is one representative contribution.

Using functional imaging to refine prostate cancer irradiation

Zhang Qing's team uses functional imaging to identify lesions within the prostate, has established a simultaneous integrated carbon-ion boost technique, and explores more precise treatment through clinical trial design and metabolic research.

Contributing to particle therapy standards and professional training

The hospital was commissioned to draft clinical trial guidance for particle therapy equipment and participates in health industry and professional standards. Medical physics training and clinical protocols together support precise treatment delivery.

2014

Beginning with a registration clinical trial

Before formal operation, the hospital conducted a registration clinical trial, establishing its clinical foundations in particle radiotherapy.

2015

China's first dual-particle hospital begins operation

It formally opened on May 8, offering both proton and heavy-ion radiotherapy.

2020

Publication of a 206-patient recurrent nasopharyngeal cancer cohort

The study summarized outcomes and toxicity in patients receiving carbon-ion reirradiation from 2015 to 2019, building clinical evidence for this complex treatment area.

2022

Combining functional imaging with prostate cancer particle therapy

The team published metabolic research on simultaneous integrated carbon-ion boosts and a randomized phase II trial protocol, continuing to investigate the technique's value.

Leading specialties,
built on medical achievements.

Explore Proton and Heavy Ion Center's contributions in each field, from specialty standing to notable achievements, and the conditions this expertise supports.

Leading international consensus on carbon-ion therapy for recurrent nasopharyngeal cancer

Documented in the hospital's 2025 tenth-anniversary review; the contribution concerns this specific disease and technique.

The team focuses on nasopharyngeal cancer recurring after radiotherapy and local treatment of brain and skull-base tumors. Research covers carbon-ion reirradiation, combined proton and carbon-ion approaches, and coordination with drug treatment.

A 206-patient study of carbon-ion reirradiation for recurrent nasopharyngeal cancer

2020 · Cancer · Single-center retrospective cohort

The team systematically analyzed tumor control and acute and late toxicity in patients treated from 2015 to 2019, evaluating benefits and risks within the same study. Kong Lin was a co-corresponding author.

Designing a carbon-ion boost trial for glioblastoma

2019 · Cancer Communications · Clinical trial protocol

The study design combined a carbon-ion boost with proton radiotherapy and temozolomide, first exploring a safe dose and then planning a randomized comparison. Kong Lin contributed to conception, treatment design and coordination and was the paper's first author.

Supported by medical physics and image guidance

The dual-particle platform combines medical physics, localization imaging and treatment planning to define irradiation volumes and normal-tissue protection for complex anatomical sites.

Multidisciplinary confirmation of each local treatment objective

The hospital includes multidisciplinary discussion before admission in its particle therapy process, considering pathology, stage, previous treatment and organ risks before setting a plan.

What conditions can this expertise help address?

This area is relevant to recurrent nasopharyngeal cancer, complex head and neck tumors and selected brain tumors. Previous dose distributions are particularly important after earlier radiotherapy. Trial protocols describe research approaches and do not establish superiority to standard treatment.

Establishing functional imaging-guided simultaneous integrated carbon-ion boost technology

A 2025 Shanghai Medical College profile of Zhang Qing describes it as the first prostate cancer technique of its type internationally, with original research and a randomized phase II trial protocol available.

The abdominal and pelvic team develops particle treatment techniques for prostate cancer, breast cancer and bone and soft tissue tumors, focusing on integration of imaging localization, dose planning and treatment response analysis.

From lesion imaging to differentiated irradiation

2022 · Trials · Randomized phase II study protocol

The team designed a comparison of functional imaging-guided simultaneous integrated boosts and conventional carbon-ion irradiation, investigating the benefit and safety of additional dose to lesion areas. The publication is a trial protocol.

Metabolic research before and after treatment in 24 prostate cancer patients

2022 · Frontiers in Oncology · Exploratory study

The study analyzed metabolic changes before and after carbon-ion radiotherapy combined with androgen deprivation therapy, exploring biological signals of simultaneous integrated boosts. Zhang Qing contributed to study design, experiments and supervision.

Particle therapy expertise in retroperitoneal sarcoma

2022 · Journal of Surgery Concepts & Practice · Expert forum

Hospital physicians discussed particle radiotherapy for retroperitoneal sarcoma and illustrated dose planning for unresectable lesions. This is an account of professional experience, not a randomized comparative conclusion.

Connecting functional imaging and clinical research

Prostate cancer research combines PSMA PET/CT and multiparametric MRI to localize lesions, supporting target definition and investigation of simultaneous integrated boost plans.

Collaboration between abdominal and pelvic specialists and the particle platform

The abdominal and pelvic team brings clinical assessment, medical physics and the dual-particle platform together to discuss how tumor location, normal organs and previous treatment affect the plan.

What conditions can this expertise help address?

Patients can explore particle treatment assessment for prostate cancer, bone and soft tissue tumors and retroperitoneal sarcoma. Its place in an overall plan varies with pathological type, resectability and prior treatment.

Meet the specialists
through their achievements.

Discover the specialists' contributions and the conditions and treatments they focus on.

Showing 2 representative specialists

Kong Lin

Particle radiotherapy for head, neck and neurological tumors

Chief physician · Doctoral supervisor

Specialist in particle radiotherapy for head, neck and neurological tumors

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Helping develop particle therapy research for recurrent nasopharyngeal cancer and glioma

Kong Lin has long worked in radiotherapy and combined treatment for head and neck and central nervous system tumors. Her representative work focuses on recurrence after previous irradiation and integration of particle techniques with brain tumor treatment.

Co-corresponding author: a 206-patient recurrent nasopharyngeal cancer study

In the 2020 Cancer study, Kong Lin contributed to conception, methodology, analysis and supervision, systematically documenting clinical outcomes and toxicity of carbon-ion reirradiation.

First author: design of a glioblastoma particle therapy trial

The 2019 protocol identifies her role in conception, design and coordination, exploring carbon-ion boosts with proton radiotherapy and temozolomide. This achievement is a study protocol.

Conditions and treatment expertise
Reirradiation for recurrent nasopharyngeal and head and neck cancer
Assessment of particle reirradiation and its place in combined treatment, considering local recurrence, previous irradiation fields and nearby critical organs.
Glioma and other central nervous system tumors
Radiotherapy planning for residual disease after surgery and coordination of particle radiotherapy with surgery and drug treatment.
Zhang Qing

Zhang Qing

Particle radiotherapy for abdominal, pelvic, bone and soft tissue tumors

Chief physician · Head of Abdominal and Pelvic Oncology

Clinical researcher in functional imaging-guided particle radiotherapy

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Connecting prostate cancer imaging, focal dose escalation and metabolic research

Zhang Qing's clinical and research areas include new proton and heavy-ion techniques for prostate, breast, bone and soft tissue tumors, leading translational work around practical treatment questions.

Establishing functional imaging-guided simultaneous integrated boost technology

Shanghai Medical College's 2025 profile records that Zhang Qing led development of the first functional imaging-guided simultaneous integrated heavy-ion boost technique for prostate cancer internationally and continues to refine the treatment process.

Co-corresponding author: translational metabolic research in prostate cancer

In the 2022 original paper, Zhang Qing contributed to design, experiments and supervision, exploring metabolic changes in 24 patients before and after carbon-ion radiotherapy combined with endocrine treatment.

Conditions and treatment expertise
Particle radiotherapy for prostate cancer
Assessment of proton or heavy-ion plans in light of lesion imaging and overall stage. Functional imaging-guided dose escalation is a principal clinical research interest.
Breast, bone and soft tissue tumors
Research into particle techniques for local treatment, with plans discussed according to pathology, location and previous therapy.

These profiles describe professional expertise and notable experience. The doctor, campus and appointment time are confirmed when arranging care.

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