Advanced Innovative Treatment Clinic for Gliomas (CURE) in Tiantan Hospital, China

On February 11, 2025, Beijing Tiantan Hospital announced the official launch of the “Combined Clinic for Advanced Innovative Treatment of Gliomas (CURE).” This marks China’s first specialized glioma clinic centered on targeted therapy and integrating multidisciplinary resources.

Led by Professor Jiang Tao, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a neurosurgery expert, the clinic unites top specialists from neurosurgery, oncology, molecular pathology, and other fields to provide patients with internationally advanced precision treatments. This milestone signifies that China’s precision diagnosis and treatment of gliomas have taken the lead in the global arena.

As the most common malignant brain tumor, gliomas have long faced challenges such as incomplete surgical resection, high recurrence rates, and chemotherapy resistance. The CURE clinic directly addresses three key clinical pain points:

1. Precision Screening: Leveraging the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) database, advanced technologies like whole-exome sequencing and methylation testing are used to identify critical molecular markers (e.g., ZM gene fusion, MET amplification, IDH1/2, BRAF, H3K27M mutations). This establishes a “biomarker-targeted drug” matching model to avoid ineffective treatments.
2. Dynamic Intervention: To tackle drug resistance after long-term chemotherapy, the clinic employs a “penetration therapy” strategy (iterative targeted drugs + combination therapy). For example, brigatinib (the world’s first MET-targeted drug approved for gliomas) is sequentially combined with anti-angiogenic drugs or chemotherapy to reverse tumor resistance.
3. Whole-Cycle Management: Patients undergo molecular pathological typing to formulate individualized targeted treatment plans. A specialized team dynamically monitors treatment efficacy, establishes comprehensive management records, and integrates cutting-edge immunotherapies like CAR-T when necessary to maximize patient benefits.

With over 20 years of expertise, Professor Jiang Tao’s glioma comprehensive treatment team forms the core backbone of the clinic:

1. Data Foundation: The team has built the world’s largest glioma multi-omics database (CGGA), covering whole-genome/transcriptome/epigenetic data from 2,594 patients. This shared resource has facilitated the publication of over 1,200 high-impact research papers globally.
2. Target Revolution: The team discovered and named the key driver gene PTPRZ1-MET (ZM gene fusion) in glioma malignancy. The MET variation criteria were incorporated into the 2021 WHO Classification of Central Nervous System Tumors. Their development of brigatinib extended median survival to 29.3 months (a 67% improvement over traditional protocols), making it the first MET inhibitor approved for glioma indications.
3. Clinical Translation: Leading the formulation of the Chinese Glioma Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines, the team’s “molecular typing-guided targeted therapy” model has been cited in the U.S. NCCN Guidelines, achieving a closed-loop innovation from basic research to clinical application.

The clinic has established a precision-driven, full-course innovative treatment system and continues to introduce domestic and international cutting-edge drugs for glioma patients.

Future Plans

The clinic will concurrently conduct over 20 clinical trials, including third-generation MET inhibitors, IDH1/2 mutation inhibitors, oncolytic viruses, CAR-T immunotherapy, and other advanced modalities, expected to benefit over 3,000 refractory patients annually.

Expert Perspective: “The path to curing gliomas lies in translating molecular diagnostics into treatment decisions,” emphasized Academician Jiang Tao. “The CURE clinic is not just a treatment hub but a transformative engine bridging basic research and clinical needs. We are shifting from ‘follow-up innovation’ to ‘original innovation,’ enabling Chinese protocols to lead global neuro-oncology revolution.”