Across 10,000 km for a Chance at Life: Hangzhou Completes Its First Solid-Tumor CAR-T Treatment for an Overseas Chinese-American Gastric Cancer Patient

Background

A Chinese-American patient who had resided in the United States for more than 40 years was diagnosed with gastric cancer approximately two years before seeking treatment in China. Following initial surgery, the patient developed widespread peritoneal metastasis one year later. Multiple lines of standard treatments, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapies administered in the US, failed to control disease progression, leaving limited options.

What was achieved

At Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital in Hangzhou, the oncology team led by Chief Physician Zheng Yu successfully administered the world's first approved solid-tumor CAR-T therapy, known as CT041 or satri-cel, to this patient. This marked Hangzhou's first case of solid-tumor CAR-T cell treatment. The team, which had participated in early clinical research of the therapy, confirmed through pathology review, genetic testing, and multidisciplinary assessment that the patient was CLDN18.2-positive, HER2-negative, and had progressed after at least two prior lines of therapy, meeting the approved indications.

The treatment was completed following detailed discussions of potential benefits, risks, and procedures by Deputy Chief Physician Yao Junlin with the patient and family. The patient tolerated the process well with no reported serious adverse reactions. Following treatment, the patient's mental state improved, and redness and swelling associated with an ulcerated abdominal wall tumor wound subsided as it began to heal. The patient was discharged and returned to the United States.

How it works

CAR-T cell therapy is an individualized immunotherapy that reprograms a patient's own immune cells to target cancer. T cells are collected from the patient's blood and sent to a specialized laboratory. There, the cells are genetically modified to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) on their surface. These engineered receptors are designed to recognize and bind to a specific protein, in this case CLDN18.2 (Claudin 18.2), which is highly expressed on the surface of many gastric cancer cells but present at low levels in normal tissues.

Once modified and expanded in number, the CAR-T cells are infused back into the patient. The cells then circulate, identify cancer cells displaying the CLDN18.2 target, and activate to attack and eliminate them. This precision is intended to limit damage to healthy cells. Satri-cel (CT041) received approval from China's National Medical Products Administration in June 2026 as the first CAR-T therapy worldwide authorized for solid tumors, specifically for CLDN18.2-positive, HER2-negative advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma after failure of at least two prior lines of systemic therapy. Clinical trial data referenced in reports indicated it could reduce the risk of disease progression or death compared with physician's choice of treatment.

What it means for international patients

This case illustrates the availability of newly approved advanced cellular therapies for certain advanced solid tumors in China, particularly for patients who have exhausted standard options in other countries. Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital operates a dedicated International Healthcare Center that serves patients from more than 100 countries and regions. The center provides bilingual services in English and Chinese, English-language medical reports, multi-language translation support, and coordination with international insurance providers.

International patients considering therapies such as CLDN18.2-targeted CAR-T must be evaluated individually for eligibility based on tumor biomarkers, treatment history, performance status, and other clinical factors. Availability and suitability should be confirmed directly with the hospital, as not all patients will qualify.

About the hospital

Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital is a public tertiary Grade A comprehensive hospital located in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. Affiliated with Zhejiang University School of Medicine, it was established in 1994 through a donation by Hong Kong philanthropist Sir Run Run Shaw and support from the Zhejiang provincial government. The hospital has a strong emphasis on internationalization, having maintained early administrative collaboration with Loma Linda University Health in the United States.

It features an International Healthcare Center recognized as the first in Zhejiang Province with dedicated independent facilities for international patients. The hospital is a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network in China, holds JCI accreditation, and has achieved high performance ratings in national tertiary public hospital evaluations. It maintains National Clinical Key Specialties in areas including general surgery, orthopedics, obstetrics and gynecology, and pulmonary medicine, with noted strengths in minimally invasive techniques and oncology.