Russia and China to continue joint research into latest cancer treatments

Scientists at the Russian Institute of Personalised Oncology at Sechenov University have obtained the first results from using an innovative Chinese pharmaceutical product to treat nasopharyngeal and oesophageal cancer. Russian doctors adopted the treatment method from specialists at Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, with whom they are working to study the latest cell technologies and genome editing to create personalised anti-tumour drugs. The press service of the I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University) reported this to TV BRICS.

"We have received the first positive results from participants in the study with advanced nasopharyngeal adenocarcinoma, a very rare disease in the Russian population but quite common in China. Patients who received the innovative targeted drug felt better after the first course of therapy. We hope that further treatment will help improve their quality of life and reduce the tumour size to allow for radical surgery," said Marina Sekacheva, Director of the Institute of Personalised Oncology.

In 2025, doctors from Sechenov University visited China to learn about their Chinese colleagues' experience in producing antitumour vaccines based on patients' T-lymphocytes and agreed to conduct clinical trials of the Chinese targeted medication. In the future, the international group of scientists intends to combine the results to compare the effectiveness of therapy and develop optimal treatment protocols for different population groups.

A return visit by Chinese specialists to Sechenov University took place in February this year. The parties signed a memorandum on expanding cooperation in the field of oncology. There are plans to create a mirror laboratory for joint research in the field of CAR-T, TIL therapy (tumour-infiltrating lymphocyte therapy) and mRNA technologies at Sechenov University. The partners' immediate plans include the development of targeted cell-based anticancer therapy for the treatment of sarcoma and lung cancer. The first joint scientific article on the molecular mechanism of sarcoma development and immunotherapeutic treatment of this cancer is being prepared for publication.

In addition, the parties will launch joint educational programmes for students and doctors in oncology, surgery, haematology and other fields. The Chinese project leader, Professor Haiyan Hu, chief physician of the oncology department at Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, will become a visiting professor at Sechenov University this year, giving lectures and conducting scientific work in Russia.