ZHONGSHAN HOSPITAL
SHANGHAI
Zhongshan Hospital at Fudan University in Shanghai operates one of the world's highest-volume liver cancer programmes — with over 1,000 TACE procedures annually, a dedicated Liver Cancer Institute that has shaped HCC treatment in Asia, and an established international patient pathway.
analyticsAt a Glance
- check_circleOver 1,000 TACE procedures annually — one of the highest-volume TACE programmes globally
- check_circleHome of the Liver Cancer Institute — the research and clinical centre that has defined surgical and interventional HCC management in China
- check_circleFull spectrum of HCC treatment: TACE, cryoablation, RFA, MWA, HAIC, hepatic resection, and liver transplantation
- check_circleCancerFax manages the complete international patient pathway — medical record review, consultation scheduling, interpreter, accommodation, and follow-up coordination
Zhongshan Hospital and Its Liver Cancer Institute
Zhongshan Hospital, affiliated with Fudan University School of Medicine, is a Tier 3A Chinese academic medical centre and the highest-ranked general hospital in Shanghai. Its Liver Cancer Institute — formally the Liver Cancer Research Institute, founded by Professor Tang Zhao-you in 1969 — has been the primary engine of HCC clinical research and treatment innovation in China for more than five decades, producing landmark studies on hepatic resection outcomes, TACE protocols, ablation techniques, and HAIC.
“Zhongshan Hospital sees more HCC patients in a year than most Western cancer centres see in a decade. The institutional knowledge, procedural volume, and multidisciplinary infrastructure that comes from that scale is difficult to replicate anywhere in the world.”
Scale and Volume
Zhongshan Hospital's Department of Interventional Radiology performs over 1,000 TACE sessions annually — covering cTACE, DEB-TACE, HAIC, and TACE + ablation combination procedures. The hepatic surgery programme performs over 500 liver resections per year, and the transplant programme operates one of China's largest living-donor and deceased-donor liver transplant units. The integrated liver cancer MDT — hepatologists, IR specialists, surgeons, oncologists, and radiologists — reviews all complex cases together.
Research Leadership
Zhongshan's Liver Cancer Institute has been directly involved in multiple pivotal TACE and HCC trials — including TACTICS protocol development collaboration, HAIC-FOLFOX clinical research, and Y-90 radioembolisation adoption studies. Its faculty hold leadership positions in the Chinese Society of Oncology and publish extensively in Journal of Clinical Oncology, Hepatology, and Gut. The programme's published outcomes data are directly comparable to leading Western HCC centres.
Zhongshan Hospital Liver Cancer Programme: Clinical Services
The complete spectrum of HCC treatment modalities available at Zhongshan through a unified hepatobiliary MDT.
| Treatment Modality | Volume / Capability | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|
| Conventional TACE (cTACE) | Primary workhorse — performed daily | Lipiodol-based cTACE with superselective technique; HAIC hybrid protocol available |
| Drug-Eluting Bead TACE (DEB-TACE) | Available for all indications | DC Bead and LifePearl platforms; doxorubicin for HCC; irinotecan (DEBIRI) for CRLM |
| HAIC (Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy) | Major centre — HAIC-FOLFOX programme | Implanted HAP port placement; HAIC + lenvatinib combination; PVTT-specific protocols |
| Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) | CT-guided and laparoscopic approaches | RFA as standalone and as combination after TACE; microwave ablation available alongside |
| Cryoablation | Available — specialist unit | Cryoablation for HCC and colorectal liver metastases; cryoimmunotherapy combinations |
| Hepatic Resection | >500 procedures per year | Open and laparoscopic; anatomic segmental resection; conversion resection after TACE/HAIC |
| Liver Transplantation | Living-donor and deceased-donor | Full transplant programme including bridge TACE, downstaging, and post-transplant surveillance |
| Y-90 Radioembolisation | Available — growing programme | Glass and resin microspheres; BCLC B and C; downstaging protocol parallel to TACE |
| Systemic Therapy Integration | Oncology co-management | Atezolizumab + bevacizumab; lenvatinib; sorafenib; clinical trial access for combination protocols |
How International Patients Access Zhongshan Hospital via CancerFax
The CancerFax pathway to Zhongshan Hospital's liver cancer programme typically takes 2–3 weeks from initial contact to procedure.
- 1
Medical Record Submission
Upload CT/MRI scans (DICOM format preferred), pathology reports, AFP and liver function tests, viral hepatitis serology, prior treatment summary, and Child-Pugh score documentation to CancerFax. All languages accepted.
- 2
CancerFax Clinical Pre-Screening
CancerFax's clinical team reviews imaging for preliminary BCLC staging, PCI estimate (if applicable), and Child-Pugh eligibility. A preliminary eligibility summary with estimated procedure approach and cost range is returned within 5 working days.
- 3
Virtual Consultation with Zhongshan Specialist
Video consultation with the relevant Zhongshan specialist (interventional radiologist for TACE/HAIC; hepatobiliary surgeon for resection discussions; transplant hepatologist for transplant assessment). Medical interpreter provided by CancerFax for consultations in Chinese. A formal treatment proposal and itemised cost estimate follow within 48 hours.
- 4
Travel and Administrative Preparation
CancerFax issues a hospital invitation letter for the Chinese medical visa application. Travel recommendations (flights, hotel near Zhongshan on Fenglin Road, Xuhui district), ground transport, hospital registration, and interpreter booking are coordinated simultaneously.
- 5
Admission, Procedure, and Discharge
Pre-procedural blood tests and imaging review on Day 1. TACE performed Day 2–3. Post-procedure monitoring and recovery Day 3–5. Pre-discharge LFTs, AFP, and imaging review. Discharge summary in English provided for home oncologist.
- 6
Remote Follow-Up Coordination
CancerFax coordinates the 4–6 week post-TACE contrast MRI at Zhongshan (or at a local imaging centre with results transmitted to Zhongshan). English-language radiology report and mRECIST assessment forwarded to the patient's home oncologist. Next session scheduling managed by CancerFax.
Zhongshan Hospital: Key Reference Numbers
Practical benchmarks for international patients planning treatment at Zhongshan.
- 1,000+TACE procedures performed annually at ZhongshanMaking Zhongshan one of Asia's highest-volume TACE centres — the volume-outcome relationship directly benefits patients through lower complication rates and superior procedural precision.
- USD 8,000–18,000Estimated cost of a TACE session at Zhongshan HospitalAll-in hospital cost including procedure, drugs, sedation, 1–3 night hospital stay, and post-procedure blood tests. Complex cases (HAIC port placement, combination procedures) at the upper end.
- 2–3 wksTypical timeline from CancerFax contact to TACE procedureFor urgent cases (rapidly progressing disease, transplant list time pressure), CancerFax can expedite the timeline to 1 week if all records are available.
- <2%30-day procedure-related mortality (published Zhongshan data)Consistent with international benchmark data from PSOGI-equivalent liver cancer programmes — reflecting rigorous patient selection and procedural expertise.
More from the TACE Resource Library
Continue exploring TACE access options and cost information.
- TACE in India: Centres, Costs, and Access
- TACE Cost Comparison: China vs India vs Western Countries
- Accessing TACE Through CancerFax: Patient Navigation Guide
- What Is TACE? A Patient Introduction to Liver Cancer Embolisation
- TACE Patient Selection: BCLC Staging and Child-Pugh Score
- TACE Therapy — Complete Treatment Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions from international patients considering treatment at Zhongshan Hospital.
About Zhongshan Hospital Access
Does Zhongshan Hospital have English-speaking staff for international patients?
Zhongshan Hospital has an international patient centre (国际医疗中心) that accommodates patients from over 60 countries — with dedicated English-speaking coordinators, translated consent forms, and English-language documentation. Senior faculty physicians in the liver cancer programme generally communicate in English for clinical discussions. Nursing and ward staff are predominantly Mandarin-speaking — CancerFax provides a dedicated medical interpreter for all ward rounds, nursing communications, and procedure-day interactions throughout the inpatient stay. This is included in the CancerFax coordination service at no additional charge to the patient.
What makes Zhongshan different from other Shanghai hospitals for TACE?
Three factors distinguish Zhongshan specifically for liver cancer: volume (the Liver Cancer Institute's annual HCC caseload is among the largest of any single institution in the world); institutional continuity (the programme has operated continuously for over 50 years, accumulating outcomes data and procedural refinements unavailable at programmes with shorter histories); and the integration of surgery, transplant, interventional radiology, and medical oncology under a single MDT framework. For patients considering TACE as part of a broader treatment plan that might include transplant evaluation, downstaging, or conversion surgery, having all these services under one roof at Zhongshan simplifies the clinical pathway significantly.
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.
Arrange a TACE Consultation at Zhongshan Hospital
CancerFax manages the complete international referral to Zhongshan Hospital's liver cancer programme — including specialist review of your imaging and pathology, consultation scheduling, medical interpreter, visa invitation letter, and coordination with the treating team throughout your stay.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified oncologist before making treatment decisions.