A Lifeline Across the Ocean: An American Patient with Advanced Cancer Travels from Los Angeles to Shenzhen for Treatment

Background

Larry Black, a patient from Los Angeles, California, was diagnosed approximately 1.5 years prior to his treatment in China with advanced gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma that had metastasized to the peritoneum. Despite receiving neoadjuvant therapy, surgery, and multiple subsequent lines of treatment in the United States—including paclitaxel combined with ramucirumab plus intraperitoneal paclitaxel—his disease progressed. A later regimen of zolbetuximab combined with chemotherapy in July 2026 also failed to control the cancer.

Biopsy of peritoneal metastases confirmed Claudin18.2 expression at 2+/3+ levels in 99% of tumor cells. His CA19-9 tumor marker had risen to 8,200 U/mL prior to the new intervention. In June 2026, China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) approved satricabtagene autoleucel (satri-cel), a Claudin18.2-targeted CAR-T cell therapy developed by CARsgen Therapeutics, reported across sources as the world's first CAR-T approved for solid tumors. With options exhausted domestically, Black and his wife Jamie traveled more than 11,600 kilometers from Los Angeles to Shenzhen.

What was achieved

Black received the satri-cel infusion on September 29, 2026, at the International Medical Center of The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital under the care of Prof. Pan Hongming, hospital vice-president and head of the oncology center, and his team. Following infusion, he developed cytokine release syndrome manifested as fever, lower limb edema, and other reactions. These were managed with tocilizumab and supportive care, with related indicators stabilizing after approximately 10 days.

Follow-up evaluation showed his CA19-9 level decreased from 8,200 U/mL pre-infusion to 57.6 U/mL. Imaging indicated marked tumor shrinkage, described as approaching complete remission. Black was subsequently discharged from the hospital.

How it works

CAR-T cell therapy is a form of immunotherapy that uses a patient's own immune cells. T cells are collected from the patient's blood through apheresis. In a laboratory, these cells are genetically modified by inserting a gene for a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) that enables the T cells to recognize a specific protein on cancer cells—in this case, Claudin18.2, a tight junction protein with high expression on certain gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancer cells but limited presence in normal adult tissues. The engineered cells are then expanded into large numbers before being infused back into the patient, typically after lymphodepleting chemotherapy to create space and reduce competing immune cells.

Once inside the body, the CAR-T cells bind to the target antigen on cancer cells, become activated, and mount an immune attack to destroy them. Satri-cel is an autologous humanized Claudin18.2-directed CAR-T product approved by the NMPA in June 2026 for patients with Claudin18.2-positive, HER2-negative advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma after at least two prior lines of systemic therapy. Prof. Pan Hongming noted the challenges of this case, including the poor-prognosis disease subtype with literature-reported median survival of about three to six months in similar heavily pretreated settings.

What it means for international patients

This case, covered by People magazine and official Chinese health and hospital channels, highlights that patients facing advanced solid tumors with specific biomarkers may explore treatment options available under different regulatory timelines in other countries. The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital operates a dedicated International Medical Center that serves patients from outside mainland China.

International patients considering care must undergo medical evaluation to confirm eligibility, biomarker status, and suitability for any specific therapy such as Claudin18.2-targeted CAR-T. Availability and individual appropriateness of treatment should be confirmed directly with the hospital. No conclusions about broader efficacy or applicability to other patients can be drawn from a single case.

About the hospital

The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital (HKU-SZH), is a public Grade 3A tertiary hospital located in Futian District, Shenzhen, China. It opened in 2012 and is managed by The University of Hong Kong in accordance with Hong Kong medical standards and practices. The hospital achieved Grade 3A accreditation in 2017.

It features an International Medical Center focused on serving overseas and international patients, with reported capabilities for bilingual consultation. The institution has recognized strengths in oncology as well as other fields including cardiology and orthopedics. Prof. Pan Hongming serves as vice president and leads the oncology center.