Overview
Digestive system tumors refer to malignant tumors that arise in any organ of the digestive tract—from the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, rectum, and anus to the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas. Common types include esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, liver cancer, and pancreatic cancer.
These tumors are associated with multiple risk factors, such as genetic susceptibility, chronic inflammation, dietary habits, lifestyle, infections (e.g., Helicobacter pylori, hepatitis B/C viruses), and environmental influences. At the molecular level, digestive system tumor development is closely linked to abnormalities in genes and signaling pathways. When tumor-suppressor genes lose their function or growth-promoting pathways become overactive, cells may proliferate uncontrollably and gradually form tumors.
Symptoms vary depending on the tumor’s location and may include difficulty swallowing, indigestion, abdominal discomfort, altered bowel habits, jaundice, weight loss, and progressive fatigue. Importantly, early-stage disease is often asymptomatic, resulting in many patients being diagnosed at advanced stages. Regular screening and early detection are therefore essential to improving outcomes.
Treatment Options
With the introduction of targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and other innovations, treatment strategies continue to evolve. The goals now extend beyond prolonging survival to improving quality of life.
Surgery
The standard approach for localized tumors. Minimally invasive surgical techniques have significantly reduced perioperative complications and hospital stays. For some patients, combining surgery with systemic treatments (neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy) can increase resection rates and improve long-term control.
Chemotherapy
A key treatment for advanced or unresectable tumors. Chemotherapy helps shrink tumors, relieve symptoms, and extend survival. Toxicity management and supportive care are essential for maintaining quality of life.
Radiation Therapy
Used both as curative treatment in selected indications and for controlling symptoms such as pain, bleeding, or obstruction. Advanced technologies such as IMRT and SBRT improve precision and reduce harm to surrounding tissues. For certain cancers, concurrent chemoradiotherapy further enhances local control.
Targeted Therapy
For tumors that harbor actionable molecular targets (e.g., HER2, EGFR), targeted therapies provide important treatment options. Genetic testing helps identify tumor molecular features and guides personalized drug selection, offering new opportunities for patients with advanced or recurrent disease.
Immunotherapy
A major area of research in digestive system tumors.
- Immune checkpoint inhibitors (PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors): Beneficial for patients with specific molecular characteristics. Ongoing studies are exploring combination strategies with chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and radiation to enhance efficacy and durability.
- Cellular immunotherapy (CAR-T, TCR-T, TILs): Harnesses or engineers a patient’s immune cells to fight cancer. Currently conducted at specialized medical centers, with expanding clinical applications.
Why Choose GoBroad?
GoBroad’s expert team is dedicated to solving the complex challenges of digestive system tumors. Beyond common cancers such as gastric, colorectal, liver, and pancreatic cancers, the team also manages rare diseases including neuroendocrine tumors. They have led and advanced the approval of dozens of innovative digestive oncology drugs in China and globally, consistently shaping the forefront of clinical research and treatment.
In cellular immunotherapy, GoBroad specialists conducted the world’s first randomized controlled CAR-T study in solid tumors and achieved the world’s first positive CAR-T clinical result in gastric cancer, providing the first evidence of CAR-T efficacy in solid tumors. This breakthrough marks a “zero-to-one” milestone and brings new hope to patients lacking effective treatment options.
At GoBroad, you will receive:
- Access to cutting-edge clinical trials
Targeting classic biomarkers such as HER2 and BRAF, as well as emerging targets such as CLDN18.2 and FGFR2b. Patients gain opportunities to join global synchronized studies and access innovative therapies early.
- Innovative biotechnology
Including world-leading TIL therapy, organoid-on-chip technologies, and more—offering new strategies for patients who do not benefit from standard treatments or have relapsed/refractory disease.
- High accessibility to new drugs
Rapid introduction of new therapies ensures patients receive validated advanced treatments as early as possible, avoiding delays that could reduce treatment effectiveness.
- Precision radiation therapy
Equipped with advanced systems such as Accuray TOMO, Varian VitalBeam, and GE radiotherapy-planning CT. Personalized radiation plans allow precise tumor targeting while protecting normal tissues to reduce side effects and improve tolerance.
- Minimally invasive surgery
For early or localized tumors, minimally invasive approaches preserve organ function, reduce trauma, shorten recovery, and enable faster return to daily life. Digital integrated operating rooms allow real-time imaging and improved surgical precision and safety.
Our Achievements
GoBroad’s digestive oncology team leads nationally and internationally:
- Led hundreds of clinical trials covering targeted therapies (EGFR, C-MET, HER2), anti-angiogenic agents, bispecific antibodies, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and CAR-T therapies—contributing to the successful approval of dozens of innovative drugs worldwide.
- Actively participated in revising key clinical guidelines such as NCCN, ESMO, and Japanese/Korean guidelines, and led CSCO guideline updates for many years—bringing Chinese clinical insights to global practice.
Global Academic Milestones
- Professor Li Jin became the first Chinese expert to deliver an oral presentation at ASCO in digestive oncology, marking a historic milestone for China on the global stage.
- Professor Shen Lin’s team completed the world’s first randomized controlled CAR-T study in solid tumors and achieved the world’s first positive CAR-T result in gastric cancer—bringing new hope to patients with refractory disease worldwide.
The efficacy data are derived from published studies and GoBroad Healthcare Group’s long-term follow-up results. For medical reference only. Individual outcomes may vary depending on disease type and treatment plan. Please consult with a qualified physician for a personalized treatment strategy.
Patient Stories
Initial Diagnosis: An Illness Disrupts Daily Life
In May 2023, Ms. T (pseudonym) collapsed at work due to sudden discomfort and was subsequently diagnosed with gastric cancer. The diagnosis shattered her regular routine. As her condition progressed, metastasis to the ovaries was detected. After undergoing first-, second-, and third-line treatments, therapeutic efficacy began to diminish, leaving her with no further drug options. Her doctors advised her to return to her hometown to rest—a period she described as a time when she "could barely see any hope."
A New Test Result Brings a Turning Point
In August 2024, Ms. T underwent surgery for ovarian tumors. Postoperative pathological tests revealed positive CLDN18.2 expression—a result that opened new therapeutic possibilities. Learning that this biomarker matched an ongoing clinical trial, she traveled to Shanghai GoBroad Cancer Hospital in September 2024. There, she was enrolled in a Phase III clinical trial on an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) for CLDN18.2-positive gastric cancer, led by Professor Jin LI as the principal investigator.
On September 11, following comprehensive evaluation and consultation by Vice President and Director of the Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Professor Zhou Jun, and the attending medical team, Ms. T signed the informed consent form, officially beginning her participation in the trial.
Response and Changes After Trial Treatment
On October 12, 2024, Ms. T received her first dose of the trial drug at the hospital. She recalled that after this initial treatment, visibly enlarged lymph nodes in her neck began to shrink. After several cycles, they became impalpable. This objective response bolstered her confidence in the treatment and renewed her hope for life.
As of now, Ms. T's tumor shows no significant progression, and her overall condition remains stable. She shared: "Thanks to the doctors' patient communication and the nurses' support, I feel respected and cared for. This treatment has restored my hope."
Medical Commentary and Significance of the Treatment
Professor Jun ZHOU summarized the case: "Gastric cancer has a high incidence in China and is characterized by treatment heterogeneity. CLDN18.2 is an important and relatively specific target found in approximately 50% of gastric cancer patients. Drugs targeting this biomarker have demonstrated promising safety and efficacy profiles."
He continued, "Ms. T, as a patient who had exhausted standard therapies, has shown disease control and improved quality of life after entering the trial. This highlights the critical value of clinical research for patients."
Looking ahead, he emphasized that the hospital will continue to be guided by patient needs, leveraging its research platform, clinical team, and academic collaborations to advance innovative drug research and translational applications.
Mr.Wang, a 55-year-old factory director, underwent surgery at a local hospital after suffering from colon cancer in 2019. The disease progressed in the second half of 2020. The patient was unable to sleep through the night due to pain and came to GHG medical center for further diagnosis and treatment. The GHG medial team provided a multidisciplinary care service(MDC) for him. The MDC was quickly initiated, and the experts from internal medicine, surgery, imaging, nutrition, and other departments carried out detailed discussions about the patient's condition. A set of combined immune and targeted treatment programs was tailored for him according to the molecular typing of the tumor, as well as the genetic test results, in combination with domestic clinical practice and international research results. Anti-tumor treatment achieved the expected response, and the pain was gradually relieved until disappeared.
"There was a new drug on the market at that time, and the doctors thought it was especially suitable for us. We were worried that it might be unavailable for me, however, it was used very soon unexpectedly. The kitchen here was very humane. I could not get used to Shanghai food, but my family could cook home dishes for me in the kitchen. Now that I've been fighting cancer for more than 4 years, it's like my second hometown here, making me feel like I'm not struggling but living for another day".
The patient,a 38-year-old Tibetan monk, is highly respected, loved and admired by the local people. In 2022, he was diagnosed with stomach cancer due to a huge tumor that almost covered the entire stomach in the local hospital, making it impossible for the patient to eat normally. After the local hospital told him that he was"inoperable", he went to GHG medical center from a great distance. The multidisciplinary care(MDC) team experts of GHG medical center finally unanimously gave the conclusion of "operable" and developed an individualized comprehensive treatment program of preoperative preparation-fine surgery-postoperative treatment. The surgery gave priority to solving the patient's feeding problem. Under the joint efforts of the MDC team, the patient gradually took food and became more and more energetic. After recovery, the patient also received multiple periods of medical anti-tumor therapy prescribed by the MDC team, and the tumor shrank significantly.
A Tibetan monk traveled to Shanghai for medical treatment. However, language, religion, and cultural differences were almost everywhere, and the difficulties and hardships experienced were unimaginable. However, the professional medical team let the Tibetan patient feel the warmth from a strange land during the treatment at GHG medical center. When the patient was discharged from the hospital, he presented the precious Hada to the medical staff with unique Tibetan etiquette and expressed his sincere gratitude.
