PEKING UNIVERSITY CANCER
HOSPITAL: INTERNATIONAL PATIENT GUIDE
Prepared by the CancerFax oncology navigation team. Updated regularly based on hospital coordination and treatment access.
analyticsAt a Glance
- check_circlePeking University Cancer Hospital (PUCH) is one of China's leading cancer hospitals
- check_circlePUCH is known for CAR-T cell therapy, haematological cancers, and advanced surgical oncology
- check_circleInternational patients are accepted โ English coordination and translation services are available
- check_circleCancerFax coordinates referrals, appointment scheduling, and logistics for PUCH
About Peking University Cancer Hospital
Peking University Cancer Hospital is the cancer-dedicated teaching hospital of Peking University Health Science Center, founded in 1976 and developed over decades into one of China's most cited oncology institutions. It functions as both a high-volume clinical hospital and a research centre, with active programmes in basic, translational, and clinical cancer research. The hospital has played a significant role in shaping Chinese guidelines for several common cancers, particularly gastric cancer, where its surgical and medical oncology teams are nationally recognised. The institution is large, with several hundred inpatient beds, a wide range of operating theatres, modern radiotherapy infrastructure, dedicated bone marrow transplant and cell therapy units, and a busy outpatient clinic system. Multidisciplinary tumour boards are routine, and the hospital regularly participates in international and domestic clinical trials, including studies of immunotherapy combinations, targeted therapies, and cell-based treatments.
Clinical Strengths and Departments Most Used by International Patients
Gastrointestinal Cancer The hospital is one of China's most established centres for gastric, oesophageal, colorectal, and hepatobiliary cancers. High annual surgical volumes, mature laparoscopic and robotic programmes, and integrated medical oncology and radiotherapy support make it a relevant destination for complex GI cases. Locally advanced gastric cancer, peritoneal disease, gastroesophageal junction tumours, and HER2-positive or MSI-high cancers are managed using a combination of surgery, perioperative chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and clinical trials. Lymphoma and Haematologic Malignancies Lymphoma services cover diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, follicular and mantle cell lymphoma, peripheral and NK/T-cell lymphomas, Hodgkin lymphoma, and rare subtypes. The hospital uses BTK inhibitors, anti-CD20 antibodies, immunotherapy combinations, and contributes to clinical trials of CAR-T cell therapy and bispecific antibodies. Stem cell transplantation is available for selected cases. Breast Cancer Breast cancer care is delivered through dedicated multidisciplinary teams covering early-stage, locally advanced, and metastatic disease. HER2-targeted therapy including modern antibody-drug conjugates, CDK4/6 inhibitors for hormone receptor-positive disease, immunotherapy for triple-negative subtypes, and reconstructive surgery options are part of standard practice. Lung Cancer Thoracic oncology services manage non-small cell and small cell lung cancer using NGS-guided targeted therapy for EGFR, ALK, ROS1, RET, MET, KRAS G12C and other alterations, immune checkpoint inhibitors as monotherapy or in combination with chemotherapy, modern thoracic surgery, and stereotactic body radiotherapy. Melanoma, Head and Neck, and Other Solid Tumours The hospital has a long-standing melanoma programme that has shaped national practice in this disease, including in mucosal and acral subtypes more common in Asian patients. Head and neck oncology, urological cancers, gynaecological cancers, and sarcomas are also managed by specialised teams within the institution. Immunotherapy and Clinical Trials The hospital runs a large clinical trial portfolio across multiple cancers, with strong involvement in PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitor studies, novel checkpoint targets, antibody-drug conjugates, bispecific antibodies, cell therapies, and targeted therapy combinations. Several Chinese-developed immunotherapy and targeted agents have been studied or registered with significant input from the hospital's investigators.
How International Patients Are Admitted
International patient admission usually follows a structured pathway: Direct walk-in admission for international patients is not the standard route, and most cases benefit substantially from advance medical record review before travel.
Medical records are organised and shared with CancerFax for
Medical records are organised and shared with CancerFax for case review
CancerFax prepares an English clinical summary and identifie
CancerFax prepares an English clinical summary and identifies the most relevant department or specialist within the hospital
The case is forwarded for hospital review; structured feedba
The case is forwarded for hospital review; structured feedback typically follows within several working days
If admission is offered, the hospital provides an invitation
If admission is offered, the hospital provides an invitation letter for visa purposes
CancerFax supports document preparation, visa coordination,
CancerFax supports document preparation, visa coordination, accommodation, airport transfer, and admission day logistics
On arrival, the patient registers through the hospital's int
On arrival, the patient registers through the hospital's international patient services and begins the agreed treatment pathway
When This Hospital May Be the Right Fit
Peking University Cancer Hospital is most relevant when families want a high-volume academic centre in Beijing with broad cancer specialisation rather than a single-disease focus. It is particularly worth considering for gastric and gastrointestinal cancer cases, lymphoma cases needing access to clinical trials and immunotherapy, melanoma including mucosal and acral subtypes, breast and lung cancer, and patients seeking immunotherapy combinations or trial-stage agents. For some highly subspecialised cases, such as proton therapy, BNCT, certain CAR-T platforms, or specific paediatric oncology services, other Chinese hospitals may be a more direct match. CancerFax helps compare options before travel rather than defaulting to a single hospital.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions from patients and families.
Is Peking University Cancer Hospital a public or private hospital?
It is a public academic cancer hospital affiliated with Peking University Health Science Center. It functions as a teaching, research, and clinical institution and follows public hospital structures within China's healthcare system.
Is the hospital good for gastric cancer?
Yes. The hospital is one of China's most established centres for gastric and gastrointestinal cancers, with high surgical volumes, mature multidisciplinary care, and strong involvement in national and international guidelines. Locally advanced and complex gastric cancer cases are routinely managed.
Does the hospital offer CAR-T cell therapy?
The hospital participates in clinical trials and approved use of CAR-T cell therapy for selected B-cell lymphomas and other haematologic malignancies. Eligibility depends on diagnosis, prior treatment, organ function, and protocol availability. CancerFax helps assess whether CAR-T at this hospital, another Chinese centre, or an alternative therapy is the right next step.
Can international patients join clinical trials at Peking University Cancer Hospital?
In many cases, yes. Trial enrolment requires meeting specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, and not every trial accepts international patients. CancerFax helps assemble the case for review and confirms whether a particular trial is open before travel is planned.
Is English widely spoken at the hospital?
English fluency varies between departments and individual physicians. The hospital's international patient services support communication, and CancerFax provides interpreter coordination during consultations and admission for non-Mandarin speakers, so language is generally manageable with planning.
How long should I plan to stay in Beijing?
Stay duration depends entirely on the treatment plan. Surgical cases typically require one to three weeks plus pre-operative work-up; chemotherapy and immunotherapy regimens may need longer initial stays before continuing locally; transplant or cell therapy pathways are usually longer. CancerFax helps families plan accommodation and travel realistically based on the proposed pathway.
How does Peking University Cancer Hospital compare with Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center or Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center?
All three are leading Chinese academic cancer hospitals with broad specialisation and strong reputations. The right choice depends less on overall ranking and more on diagnosis, subspecialty depth, trial availability, and travel logistics. Peking University Cancer Hospital is particularly strong in gastric and gastrointestinal cancers, melanoma, lymphoma, and immunotherapy. Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center has globally recognised expertise in NK/T-cell lymphoma and nasopharyngeal cancer. Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center is known for breast cancer and several rare tumours. CancerFax helps match the case with the most clinically relevant centre.
Important Disclaimers
This guide is for patient education and care navigation support only. It is not an official communication of Peking University Cancer Hospital, and CancerFax is not affiliated with the hospital as an exclusive representative. Treatment availability, departmental structures, costs, trial portfolios, and admission practices change over time and may vary from what is described here. This page does not replace medical advice from a qualified oncologist. Eligibility, treatment choice, response, side effects, cost, and outcomes vary from patient to patient. CancerFax does not provide emergency medical care. Patients with breathing difficulty, severe bleeding, seizures, sudden weakness, uncontrolled pain, fever during treatment, or rapidly worsening symptoms should contact their treating hospital or emergency services immediately.
Reference Data
Structured reference data summarizing key information for this topic.
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| Full name | Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute (Beijing Cancer Hospital) |
| Affiliation | Peking University Health Science Center |
| Founded | 1976 |
| Location | Haidian District, Beijing, China |
| Hospital type | Academic, public, tertiary cancer centre |
| Core focus | Comprehensive adult oncology, with strong gastrointestinal, lymphoma, breast, lung, and immunotherapy programmes |
| International patients | Accepted through pre-coordinated case review |
| Language support | Mandarin Chinese; English supported through international patient services and via CancerFax interpreter coordination |
How CancerFax Helps
CancerFax is a specialist cancer access and patient-navigation platform. We help patients and families understand their options, organise medical records, coordinate hospital communication, and support cross-border treatment planning where appropriate.
We help collect and organise reports, scans, pathology, biomarker results, and treatment history for structured case review.
We communicate with hospitals or trial teams to assess whether a case may be suitable for further screening.
We support appointment coordination, document submission, translation, and direct communication with international departments.
For international patients, we help with practical coordination โ travel planning, hospital admission guidance, and local support.
If this option is not suitable, we help explore other relevant treatments, clinical trials, or advanced care pathways.
From inquiry through to follow-up, our coordinators provide a single point of contact for the family.
CancerFax does not guarantee treatment access, eligibility, or clinical outcome. Our role is to help patients access accurate information, structured review, and appropriate specialist pathways.
Need Help Accessing Peking University Cancer Hospital?
If you or a family member is considering Peking University Cancer Hospital for cancer treatment, CancerFax can help organise the medical records, identify the most relevant department, communicate with the hospital, and coordinate visa, travel, accommodation, and admission. Share your reports to begin the case review. CTAs: Share Your Reports | Request Hospital Coordination | Speak to CancerFa
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified oncologist before making treatment decisions.