6 Advanced Methods for Lung Cancer Treatment in China: From Surgery to ADCs
- MedBridge NZ
- Dec 19, 2025
- 4 min read
Key Takeaways
Rapid Medical Evolution: Since 2010, lung cancer treatment in China and globally has expanded from three basic methods to six advanced therapies.
The 6 Pillars: The modern treatment arsenal includes Surgery, Radiotherapy, Chemotherapy, Targeted Therapy, Immunotherapy, and the cutting-edge ADC (Antibody-Drug Conjugate).
Emerging Tech: ADC therapy, often described as a "biological missile," represents a significant leap forward in precision oncology, a field where Chinese clinical trials are particularly active.
Accessing Care: As a dedicated medical concierge provider, MedBridgeNZ facilitates Medical Tourism China, connecting international patients with top specialists like Dr. Zheng for these life-saving treatments.
The Evolution of Lung Cancer Treatment in China
The landscape of oncology has undergone a revolutionary transformation over the past decade. If we look back to 2010, options were limited. However, today, thanks to rapid advancements in medical science, patients seeking lung cancer treatment in China have access to a sophisticated arsenal of therapies.
Dr. Zheng Yuzhen, a leading Associate Chief Physician in Thoracic Surgery, outlines the six major methods currently used to fight lung cancer effectively. Understanding these options is the first step for patients considering medical tourism to access advanced care.
Dr. Zheng’s 6 Major Pillars of Lung Cancer Therapy
1. Surgery: The Foundation of Localized Treatment
Surgery is often the first line of defense in lung cancer treatment in China. As Dr. Zheng describes, it is a direct approach: "Use a scalpel to remove the tumor from the body."
Efficacy: While this method is straightforward and effective for localized cancer, it has limitations.
Limitation: Since malignant tumors can metastasize (spread), surgery alone is often insufficient for a complete cure and is increasingly combined with systemic therapies.
2. Radiotherapy: Precision DNA Targeting
Radiotherapy works by beaming particles at the tumor site. Its primary mechanism is to break the DNA double helix of cancer cells.
How it works: DNA replication is the first step in cell division. By damaging the DNA, radiotherapy stops the cancer cells from replicating, leading to cell death.
Role: Like surgery, it is a localized treatment used to control the tumor in a specific area.
3. Chemotherapy: Systemic Defense and Sensitization
Chemotherapy targets the cell division process (mitosis). It interferes with the cycle of fast-growing cells to stop them from multiplying.
Understanding Side Effects: Chemotherapy attacks all active cells. Since hair follicles are among the most active cells in the human body, they often become "collateral damage," leading to hair loss.
Strategic Use: Chemotherapy plays a crucial role in "sensitizing" the body for other treatments. It can expose tumor antigens, making subsequent immunotherapy more effective.
4. Targeted Therapy: Precision Medicine for Driver Genes
A major reason patients seek lung cancer treatment in China is access to precision medicine. Unlike chemotherapy, targeted therapy does not rely on general cell activity. Instead, it targets specific "driver genes" that cause the cancer to grow.
The Process: It requires genetic testing. If a patient carries a specific gene mutation, doctors can prescribe a drug designed to inhibit that specific gene.
Result: This allows for effective tumor suppression at the genetic level with often fewer side effects than traditional chemo.
5. Immunotherapy: Reactivating the Body's Defenses
In recent years, scientists discovered that cancer cells thrive by "escaping" the immune system's surveillance—essentially putting on a disguise (immune evasion). Immunotherapy (such as PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors and CTLA-4) helps the immune system rip off this disguise.
The "Combo" Strategy: Clinical studies show that immunotherapy often works best when combined with chemotherapy. Chemotherapy damages the tumor, exposing its "antigens" (its true identity), which allows the boosted immune system to recognize and attack the cancer more effectively.
6. ADC (Antibody-Drug Conjugate): The "Biological Missile"
This is one of the most exciting developments in lung cancer treatment in China today (e.g., HER2, Trop2 ADCs). Dr. Zheng uses a vivid analogy to explain this technology:
Old Way: Traditional chemotherapy is like poisoning a whole pond to catch one fish.
New Way (ADC): ADC is like a guided torpedo. It consists of an antibody (the guidance system) attached to a chemotherapy drug (the explosive payload).
Mechanism: The antibody guides the drug precisely to the cancer cell. Once attached, it injects the chemotherapy directly inside the cancer cell, where it detonates. This ensures maximum damage to the tumor with minimal harm to healthy cells.
Accessing Advanced Lung Cancer Treatment in China via MedBridgeNZ
The landscape of oncology is evolving rapidly. As Dr. Zheng notes, "Medical progress is accelerating. What seemed impossible in 2010 is standard practice today." China is currently at the forefront of many of these innovations, offering new hope through advanced clinical applications of ADCs and immunotherapy.
However, for international patients, navigating a foreign healthcare system can be complex. This is where MedBridgeNZ steps in.
We are a premier medical concierge provider. It is important to note that we do not provide medical services directly. Instead, we act as your bridge, facilitating seamless Medical Tourism China. We connect you with top-tier hospitals and specialists like Dr. Zheng, handling all logistics, communication, and appointment scheduling, so you can focus entirely on your recovery.
Conclusion: Hope for the Future
Facing a cancer diagnosis is difficult, but as Dr. Zheng emphasizes, "Never give up hope." With new drugs and therapies emerging every few years—often available sooner through lung cancer treatment in China—the toolkit for fighting this disease is stronger than ever.
Source & Attribution
Original Content By:
Dr. Zheng Yuzhen (郑于臻) Associate Chief Physician, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University
Note: Dr. Zheng is a recognized specialist in the field of thoracic oncology in China. The medical information provided here is based on his expert video analysis.
