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Dr. Sun Ying

Chinese name: 孙颖
Chief Physician, Professor, Doctoral Supervisor, Chief Expert in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma . Radiation Oncology
Dr. Sun Ying is Vice President of Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, a professor, chief physician and doctoral supervisor. A leading expert in nasopharyngeal carcinoma, she specializes in intensity-modulated radiotherapy and precision treatment of head and neck cancers, and has led international joint guidelines for combined chemo-radiotherapy.

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Coordinated end-to-end by Orisene

20+ years
Clinical experience
40+ papers
Academic output
26 guideline adoptions
Guideline leadership

  • The Physician

About Dr. Sun Ying

Dr. Sun Ying is Vice President of Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, a professor, chief physician and doctoral supervisor. She specializes in the diagnosis, radiotherapy and integrated treatment of head and neck cancers, especially nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and has achieved a series of advances in intensity-modulated and precision radiotherapy. Over the past five years she has published more than 50 SCI papers as first or corresponding author in journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet, JAMA, BMJ, Nature Medicine and Lancet Oncology. Nine of her research findings have been adopted by international guidelines, she co-chaired the joint CSCO/ASCO guideline on chemo-radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and she has won two National Science and Technology Progress Second Prizes.
1、Vice President of Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center; professor, chief physician and doctoral supervisor
2、National High-level Talent (2019); National Hundred, Thousand and Ten Thousand Talent Project expert (2020); Ministry of Science and Technology Young and Middle-aged Innovation Leader (2020)
3、Recipient of the State Council Special Government Allowance (2023)
4、Published more than 50 SCI papers in 5 years as first or corresponding author in NEJM, Lancet, JAMA, BMJ, Nature Medicine and Lancet Oncology
5、Nine research findings adopted by CSCO, CACA, NCCN and NRG international guidelines, and won two National Science and Technology Progress Second Prizes
6、Vice Chairman of the CSCO Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Committee and Vice President of the Radiation Oncology Physicians Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association

Dr. Sun Ying ’s Three Key Areas of Expertise

Three areas of focused expertise, each supported by a deep subspecialty team, high case volumes and an English-speaking care pathway coordinated by Orisene.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Intensity-modulated and precision radiotherapy; her clinical trials and multi-omic studies define how patients respond to induction chemotherapy and support individualized, subtype-specific treatment plans that improve survival and quality of life while limiting unnecessary treatment and protecting normal tissue for each patient.

Head and neck cancers

Combined chemo-radiotherapy and organ-preserving treatment; as co-chair she helped develop the joint CSCO and ASCO guideline on chemo-radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma, shaping international standards of care and helping patients preserve organ function and appearance during curative treatment across the world.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma screening

Research on EBV methylation-based screening; her population-based cohort studies improve early detection of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in high-risk communities and guide follow-up strategies and timely treatment, so that patients can start curative therapy earlier and avoid late-stage disease, when treatment outcomes are best.

More: radiotherapy for other head and neck tumors, distant metastasis management, and precision oncology with big data and real-world evidence

  • Clinical Practice & Publications

Selected cases, research & publications

Representative work drawn from documented clinical treatments, publicly indexed literature, and hospital project records, reflecting the depth of this physician's hands-on expertise and academic rigor.
1、AI-Assisted Target Volume Delineation for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Radiotherapy
At Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, an AI contouring tool built on 3D deep learning automatically outlined the primary tumor on MRI for 1,021 nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients, then improved physicians’ accuracy by 5% and cut contouring time by 39%. This precision radiotherapy approach helps patients with nasopharyngeal cancer receive safer radiation with fewer side effects.
2、CSCO and ASCO Guideline on Chemoradiotherapy for Stage II-IVA Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
This joint Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology and ASCO guideline gives evidence-based recommendations for nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients, supporting daily image-guided intensity-modulated radiotherapy, induction and concurrent cisplatin-based chemotherapy, and careful MRI-fused target delineation. It standardised chemoradiotherapy worldwide, guiding doctors on how to combine chemotherapy and radiation for better survival, tumor control and quality of life.
3、International Target Volume Delineation Guidelines for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Radiotherapy
Led by Ma Jun, Sun Ying and Tang Linglong, an international panel of 50 specialists from 17 countries produced evidence-based guidelines and a contouring atlas for nasopharyngeal carcinoma radiotherapy. Published in The Lancet Oncology, these recommendations standardise clinical target volume, neck and low-risk volume delineation, helping patients with nasopharyngeal cancer receive more precise, individualised treatment with fewer radiation toxicities.
4、Risk-Adaptive Therapy Guided by Dynamic ctDNA in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
The EP-STAR trial monitored Epstein-Barr virus ctDNA during induction chemotherapy to guide adaptive treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Low-risk patients received standard chemoradiotherapy, intermediate-risk patients added metronomic capecitabine, and high-risk patients received sintilimab immunotherapy, reaching a 3-year failure-free survival of 89.1% and reducing progression risk by 59% versus non-adaptive care.
5、Metronomic Capecitabine as Adjuvant Therapy for Locoregionally Advanced Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
This multicentre phase 3 trial evaluated adjuvant oral metronomic capecitabine for high-risk nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients who achieved remission after chemoradiotherapy. Adding capecitabine for one year significantly improved 3-year failure-free survival (85.3% versus 75.7%) with manageable hand-foot syndrome, offering nasopharyngeal cancer patients an effective, well-tolerated adjuvant treatment option that did not compromise quality of life.
6、Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: Diagnosis, Staging and Treatment — A Lancet Seminar
This Lancet seminar reviews nasopharyngeal carcinoma management, from Epstein-Barr virus-related aetiology and MRI staging to intensity-modulated radiotherapy, chemotherapy and immunotherapy. It explains how risk-adapted chemoradiotherapy, target volume delineation and organ-at-risk sparing improve cure rates and reduce long-term toxicity, giving clinicians and nasopharyngeal cancer patients an authoritative overview of modern personalised treatment.
  • Affiliated Hospital

Where Dr. Sun Ying practices

Guangzhou

Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center

Chinese name: 中山大学肿瘤防治中心
Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, founded in 1964, is South China's leading oncology institute and the nation's top-ranked cancer center in scientific impact, ranking fifth worldwide on the 2024 Nature Index, with 6 academicians and one of Asia's finest radiotherapy centers.
Since 1964
62 years of cancer care
2,245
Licensed beds
2.56 million
Annual outpatient visits
6
Licensed beds
View Hospital Profile
Appointments with this physician are booked through official hospital channels only, coordinated end-to-end by Orisene.
  • WHY INTERNATIONAL PATIENTS CHOOSE CHINA

Why patients travel to China for treatment

Six reasons international patients now put China on their shortlist — from internationally aligned clinical capability to the policy channels that make treatment here genuinely reachable.

Clinical capability at international standard

Chinese hospitals deliver internationally aligned protocols, performing vast volumes of advanced robotic, minimally invasive, and complex transplant surgeries annually. This massive clinical data and highly specialized workforce ensure world-class outcomes, even for rare and complex cases.

Diagnostics and treatment in days, not months

A full medical workup that typically means months of waiting elsewhere is completed in China within 48–72 hours. Imaging, labs, and multidisciplinary consultations are integrated into a single visit, allowing treatment to commence immediately.

Transparent, itemised pricing

Chinese healthcare offers legally binding, itemised cost estimates before treatment begins, eliminating hidden fees or surprise billing. Due to national centralized procurement, total expenses remain 40–70% lower than comparable care in Western Europe or North America.

Policy channels that open the door

China facilitates access through 240-hour visa-free transit and dedicated medical visa routes. Policies like the Greater Bay Area drug pathway and Boao Lecheng’s pilot zone allow designated hospitals to administer innovative therapies not yet globally approved.
  • International Patient Guide

Consulting this physician, step by step

From the first message to the follow-up after you fly home, one coordinator, no paperwork on your side.
01
Day 0
  • Share your story
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02
Days 1–3
  • Records review & matching
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03
Days 3–7
  • Your consultation
    Appointments are booked through official hospital channels only. Your navigator accompanies every visit with real-time interpretation, so you can focus on one thing: being cared for.
04
After you fly home
  • Reports & follow-up
    Translated reports and prescriptions delivered within days, remote follow-up coordination with your physicians at home, and a standing line to your navigator.
Orisene offers English and multilingual services, a professional medical interpreter at every consultation, plus translation of your records, reports and prescriptions.

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Information Sources

This physician profile is compiled by the Orisene team from publicly available online sources and verified at the time of publication. Details may change, and physician availability is confirmed at the time of booking.

Disclaimer: This information is for general educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personal medical guidance.

Mention of any specific product, brand, or manufacturer is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Dr. Sun Ying.