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Dr. Xu Ruihua

Chinese name: 徐瑞华
Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Chief Physician, Professor, Doctoral Supervisor . Medical Oncology
Dr. Xu Ruihua is Director of Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Director of its affiliated hospital and the State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. A leading medical oncologist, he specializes in the precision treatment of colorectal, gastric, esophageal and pancreatic cancers.

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No obligation

Coordinated end-to-end by Orisene

37 years
Clinical experience
210+ papers
Academic output
15+ guidelines
Guidelines developed

  • The Physician

About Dr. Xu Ruihua

Dr. Xu Ruihua is Director of Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, President of its affiliated hospital and Director of the State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China. A professor, chief physician, doctoral supervisor and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, he is a leading expert in medical oncology, specializing in precision treatment of colorectal, gastric, esophageal and pancreatic cancers through chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy. He has published more than 200 SCI papers as first or corresponding author in journals such as JAMA, Cell, BMJ and Nature Medicine. As first completer he won two National Science and Technology Progress Second Prizes and led toripalimab trials approved by the US FDA and the European EMA.
1、Director of Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, President of its affiliated hospital and Director of the State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China
2、Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; professor, chief physician and doctoral supervisor
3、President of the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO) and Vice President of the China Anti-Cancer Association
4、Published more than 200 SCI papers in JAMA, Cell, BMJ, Cancer Cell, Nature Medicine and Lancet Oncology, and a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher
5、Won two National Science and Technology Progress Second Prizes as first completer, plus the National Innovation Competition Award and the Ho Leung Ho Lee Science and Technology Award
6、Led clinical trials of toripalimab approved by the US FDA and the European EMA

Dr. Xu Ruihua ’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.

Colorectal cancer

Precision treatment combining chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy; his landmark trials such as FRESCO and CAPability-01 have reshaped first-line and later-line standards for advanced colorectal cancer and influenced international treatment guidelines for the difficult MSS/pMMR subtype, helping patients achieve longer survival and better quality of life.

Gastric and esophageal cancer

Integrated chemo-immunotherapy regimens; the JUPITER-06 trial of toripalimab plus chemotherapy redefined first-line treatment of advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and supported drug approvals in the United States and Europe for upper gastrointestinal tumors, offering patients more effective options across the upper digestive tract.

Pancreatic and hepatobiliary cancer

Evidence-based systemic therapy and multidisciplinary management; his research on novel agents and real-world AI-assisted endoscopic screening helps detect upper gastrointestinal cancer earlier and guides individualized treatment plans for patients with pancreatic and hepatobiliary tumors who need coordinated, personalized care and close monitoring.

More: cancer of unknown primary, neuroendocrine tumors, and tumor precision medicine and clinical trials

  • 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. Fruquintinib Third-Line Therapy for Refractory Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (FRESCO)
Third-line treatment case series for metastatic colorectal cancer: in the phase 3 FRESCO trial, 416 Chinese patients whose disease progressed after at least two chemotherapy lines received oral fruquintinib, a selective VEGFR-1/2/3 inhibitor. Median overall survival reached 9.3 versus 6.6 months with placebo, establishing fruquintinib as a standard third-line option for refractory colorectal cancer.
2. Second-Line Fruquintinib Plus Paclitaxel for Advanced Gastric Cancer (FRUTIGA)
Advanced gastric cancer treatment case: the phase 3 FRUTIGA trial randomised 703 patients with gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma progressing after fluoropyrimidine and platinum chemotherapy to fruquintinib plus paclitaxel or paclitaxel alone. Median progression-free survival improved to 5.6 versus 2.7 months, offering a new second-line gastric cancer treatment option for Chinese patients.
3. First-Line Toripalimab Plus Chemotherapy for Advanced Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (JUPITER-06)
Esophageal cancer immunotherapy case: JUPITER-06 randomised 514 treatment-naive patients with advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma to toripalimab plus paclitaxel-cisplatin or placebo plus chemotherapy. Median overall survival reached 17.0 versus 11.0 months with a 42% reduction in death risk, making PD-1 inhibitor plus chemotherapy first-line standard care for advanced esophageal cancer.
4. Toripalimab With Definitive Chemoradiotherapy for Locally Advanced Esophageal Cancer (EC-CRT-001)
Locally advanced esophageal cancer case: in the phase 2 EC-CRT-001 trial at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, 42 patients with unresectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma received definitive chemoradiotherapy plus toripalimab. Sixty-two percent achieved complete response, one-year overall survival was 78.4%, showing chemoradiotherapy combined with immunotherapy is safe and active for inoperable esophageal cancer.
5. Neoadjuvant Toripalimab Plus Celecoxib for dMMR/MSI-H Colorectal Cancer (PICC-2)
Colorectal cancer neoadjuvant treatment case: the randomised PICC-2 trial compared neoadjuvant toripalimab plus celecoxib with toripalimab alone in 110 patients with mismatch repair-deficient or MSI-high locally advanced colorectal cancer. Pathological complete response reached 89% versus 69%, supporting immunotherapy-based organ-preserving treatment for dMMR colorectal cancer.
6. First-Line Toripalimab Plus Chemotherapy for Recurrent or Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (JUPITER-02)
Recurrent metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma case: JUPITER-02 randomised 289 chemotherapy-naive patients to toripalimab plus gemcitabine-cisplatin or chemotherapy alone. Median progression-free survival was 21.4 versus 8.2 months and overall survival 33.7 months in controls, establishing PD-1 immunotherapy plus chemotherapy as standard first-line treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
  • Affiliated Hospital

Where Dr. Xu Ruihua 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
    A private consultation with an Orisene advisor, by message, phone or video. Send medical records in any language. Nothing is shared with the hospital yet.
02
Days 1–3
  • Records review & matching
    Orisene translates and presents your case to the right specialist. The hospital returns a tailored care plan, with costs itemised once that plan is confirmed.
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.

Ready to plan your consultation with Dr. Xu Ruihua?

Send your records in any language. An Orisene advisor will reply within 2 hours, present your case to the right specialist, and return a tailored care plan with itemised costs, before anything is booked. Simple. Private. Efficient.
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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. Xu Ruihua.