Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Center (SPHIC)
China's first and leading dedicated particle therapy centre — offering both proton therapy and carbon ion radiotherapy for selected complex cancers where conventional radiation would cause unacceptable damage.
About Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Center (SPHIC)
Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Center (SPHIC) is China's first hospital dedicated exclusively to proton and carbon ion radiotherapy. Affiliated with Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, SPHIC specialises in advanced particle therapy for selected cancers — particularly those where precision radiation delivery is critical to protecting surrounding structures such as the brainstem, spinal cord, optic nerves, and other critical organs.
SPHIC operates both proton therapy and carbon ion therapy — a combination that makes it unique among Chinese cancer centres. Carbon ion radiotherapy is biologically heavier and more effective than proton or photon radiation for certain radioresistant tumours, including selected skull-base tumours, chordomas, chondrosarcomas, mucosal melanomas, salivary gland malignancies, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Proton therapy offers a superior dose distribution for selected paediatric tumours, CNS malignancies, and anatomically complex head and neck cancers.
Both proton and carbon ion therapy exploit the Bragg peak — the physical property that allows particle beams to deposit maximum dose within the tumour while rapidly falling off beyond it, sparing adjacent healthy tissue. At SPHIC this precision is particularly relevant for tumours adjacent to critical structures that cannot tolerate conventional radiotherapy doses.
CancerFax helps international patients access SPHIC by reviewing imaging and pathology to assess whether particle therapy eligibility is realistic, coordinating submission to the SPHIC clinical team, and managing travel and logistics for patients confirmed for treatment. Not every patient is suitable — a radiation oncologist must review each case individually.
| Hospital at a Glance | |
|---|---|
| Country | China |
| City | Shanghai |
| Clinical Operations | 2014 |
| Hospital Type | Dedicated Particle Therapy Hospital |
| Affiliation | Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center |
| Therapy Types | Proton therapy AND carbon ion radiotherapy |
| Unique Feature | Only centre in China offering both proton and carbon ion |
| Research Focus | Skull-base tumours, HCC, paediatric cancers, CNS malignancies, head and neck tumours |
Why Patients Choose This Hospital
Cancer Specialties and Clinical Departments
Advanced Treatment Capabilities
Our Medical Specialists
SPHIC's clinical team comprises radiation oncologists, medical physicists, and oncology specialists with dedicated expertise in particle therapy planning and delivery. The centre works in close collaboration with Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center for multidisciplinary tumour assessment.
Eligibility for proton or carbon ion therapy requires individual review by a SPHIC radiation oncologist. CancerFax coordinates this assessment by submitting imaging and pathology and requesting a preliminary opinion on suitability before travel is arranged.
Particle therapy eligibility must be assessed individually — not all tumours are suitable. CancerFax helps coordinate the pre-treatment eligibility review before patients commit to travel.
World-Class Infrastructure
- Carbon ion beam delivery — highest biological effectiveness (RBE 2–3x proton) for radioresistant tumours
- Indicated for chordoma, chondrosarcoma, mucosal melanoma, salivary gland malignancies, selected HCC
- Bragg peak precision — maximum dose at tumour depth, rapid fall-off beyond target volume
- Unique in China — SPHIC is the only centre offering clinical carbon ion therapy
- Proton beam delivery — superior dose distribution vs photon for selected anatomical locations
- Preferred for paediatric cancers, CNS tumours, head and neck, and tumours near critical structures
- Reduces integral dose and secondary malignancy risk compared to conventional photon radiotherapy
- Active paediatric proton therapy programme with published clinical experience
- Advanced 3D and 4D treatment planning for particle beam delivery
- Image-guided patient positioning and tumour tracking
- Multidisciplinary pre-treatment assessment with Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center
- Published clinical research on particle therapy outcomes across tumour types
- International patient services for overseas referrals
- Multidisciplinary review for complex cases requiring combined surgery and particle therapy
- Treatment response assessment and follow-up imaging planning
- Coordination with the patient's referring oncologist after treatment completion
Services for International Patients
What to Prepare Before Traveling
- arrow_rightPrepare MRI and CT imaging (with DICOM files) of the tumour and surrounding structures — critical for particle therapy eligibility assessment
- arrow_rightInclude pathology report, prior radiation history (dose, field, technique), and current treatment plan from your oncologist
- arrow_rightConfirm prior radiation fields — re-irradiation eligibility depends on previous dose delivered to overlapping structures
Proton and carbon ion therapy are not suitable for every tumour. A radiation oncologist at SPHIC must review imaging individually. CancerFax coordinates this eligibility assessment before travel is planned.
Patient Amenities & Facilities
SPHIC's particle therapy courses typically require multiple daily sessions over several weeks. CancerFax helps international patients and families plan accommodation and logistics for the full treatment duration.
How to Reach This Hospital
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 — 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.
Patient Questions Answered
CancerFax begins by reviewing your imaging and pathology to assess whether proton or carbon ion therapy may be relevant for your tumour type, location, and prior treatment history. Particle therapy is not suitable for every case — we perform an initial eligibility check before submitting to SPHIC.
If the case appears appropriate, we prepare a structured submission with all relevant imaging (DICOM files), pathology, prior radiation history, and your oncologist's current plan, and submit it to the SPHIC clinical team for individual eligibility assessment. Once SPHIC confirms eligibility and an appointment, CancerFax coordinates the practical aspects — interpreter arrangements, travel planning, accommodation in Shanghai, and post-treatment follow-up with your local oncologist.
Both use the Bragg peak to concentrate radiation dose within the tumour while sparing surrounding tissue. Carbon ion therapy has a biological effectiveness 2–3 times greater than proton, making it more effective for radioresistant tumours such as chordomas, chondrosarcomas, mucosal melanomas, and salivary gland malignancies. Proton therapy is preferred for paediatric cancers, CNS tumours, and cases where dose reduction to adjacent structures is the primary goal. The SPHIC radiation oncologist determines which modality is appropriate for each individual case.
Carbon ion therapy at SPHIC is most commonly used for skull-base tumours (chordoma, chondrosarcoma), mucosal melanoma, salivary gland malignancies, selected hepatocellular carcinoma, and other tumours where radioresistance makes conventional photon radiation less effective. Eligibility depends on tumour histology, location, size, and prior radiation history.
Both modalities offer significant advantages for paediatric patients compared to conventional photon radiotherapy — primarily by reducing integral dose to developing tissues, lowering the risk of secondary malignancies, and preserving neurocognitive function in brain and CNS tumours. The choice between proton and carbon ion depends on tumour type, location, and radiobiological considerations. SPHIC has an active paediatric particle therapy programme with published clinical experience.
For particle therapy eligibility, SPHIC requires MRI (with gadolinium enhancement where appropriate) and CT of the tumour and adjacent structures — in DICOM format for treatment planning review. Prior radiation fields and dose records are also essential if the patient has received previous radiotherapy to an overlapping area. CancerFax collects and prepares all required imaging before submission.
Send Your Medical Reports to SPHIC via CancerFax
Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Center offers both proton therapy and carbon ion radiotherapy — China's most advanced particle therapy programme. Share your imaging and pathology with CancerFax to assess eligibility and coordinate access.