From February 28 to March 1, 2025, the 9th Annual Meeting of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association Colorectal Oncology Committee was held in Beijing. This year’s meeting focused on the standardization, precision, and personalization of colorectal cancer diagnosis and treatment, drawing top experts from China and around the world to explore the latest advances in the field.In an exclusive interview with Oncology Frontier Insights, Professor Chaoxu Zheng, Executive Chair of the meeting and Secretary-General of the Committee, shared highlights from the event, discussed the clinical value of natural orifice specimen extraction surgery (NOSES), and offered his perspective on training the next generation of colorectal surgeons and the future of the specialty.
Oncology Frontier: As Executive Chair of this year’s meeting, how do you think the academic highlights and key themes of the meeting are driving progress toward more standardized and personalized colorectal cancer care in China?
Professor Chaoxu Zheng:The Chinese Medical Doctor Association Colorectal Oncology Committee has extensive national influence and brings together many of the leading experts and scholars in colorectal cancer. This year’s conference featured a wealth of academic highlights, spanning minimally invasive surgery, multidisciplinary treatment, and the management of complex cases.
We also placed strong emphasis on areas such as artificial intelligence, big data, and integrative medicine, which are rapidly emerging as key directions in the development of colorectal cancer care.
Our Committee’s focus covers the full continuum of colorectal cancer care—prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, nursing, and education—with a particular emphasis on early detection and intervention, which is vital to improving patient outcomes. At the same time, we are deeply invested in standardized medical education and clinical training, which we are promoting across all healthcare levels—from municipal hospitals to top-tier tertiary centers.
In support of national policies such as the “Thousand County Project”, we launched a county hospital alliance, starting with local physician training to enhance the quality of care in grassroots settings. In addition, our “Red Journey Public Welfare Tour” has resumed since the pandemic, now with over 30 events held since last year and 130+ sessions completed before COVID-19. These outreach activities have not only boosted clinical capabilities but also strengthened trust and communication between doctors and patients.
The subforums of this year’s meeting each had distinctive focuses, and every newly established academic group reflected a clear and timely clinical need. For example, our exploration of medical-engineering integration and intelligent medicine represents a promising interdisciplinary frontier for colorectal cancer treatment.
One of the most remarkable developments is NOSES (natural orifice specimen extraction surgery). Once met with doubt, it has now become a well-established surgical model with both solid theoretical foundations and real-world clinical success. NOSES truly represents “minimally invasive within minimally invasive” surgery, offering substantial benefits to patients. Today, it is widely implemented not only across China but also internationally. More than 200 hospitals in China have collectively performed over 100,000 NOSES procedures, supported by a large national database for data analysis.
Its application continues to expand across various tumor types, and its acceptance by both clinicians and patients has grown significantly. It offers meaningful benefits to patients and new directions for surgeons—truly embodying the philosophy of “empowering doctors and benefiting patients.” I firmly believe that the ultimate goal of surgery—particularly in oncology—should be non-invasive, painless treatment that preserves the dignity of life.
Looking ahead, the Chinese Medical Doctor Association Colorectal Oncology Committee will continue to drive progress in prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, nursing, and education. We are committed to advancing medical training and standardized education, while also exploring new technologies and treatment models, so we can offer patients more effective, humane, and dignified care.
Oncology Frontier: Under the leadership of Professor Xishan Wang, NOSES has gained international recognition. Based on your experience, how do these techniques optimize patient survival outcomes? In tackling drug resistance and reducing recurrence in advanced colorectal cancer, which directions are worth exploring?
Professor Chaoxu Zheng:The benefits of NOSES in improving patient quality of life are remarkable. From the patient’s perspective, this technique greatly reduces pain and surgical trauma, accelerating recovery. With significantly reduced surgical injury, patients can regain mobility earlier, restore organ function sooner, and experience shorter hospital stays, which in turn lessens both financial and societal burdens.
From a surgeon’s perspective, NOSES combines mature laparoscopic techniques and introduces innovations in digestive tract reconstruction and specimen extraction, achieving a minimally invasive or even non-invasive surgical effect. Whether using the digestive, urinary, or reproductive tracts as natural orifices, this technique is widely applicable.
Beyond surgical innovations, comprehensive treatment remains a key pillar in colorectal cancer management. The MDT model centers on the patient and integrates multiple disciplines—medical oncology, surgery, radiation therapy—to deliver coordinated and structured care. We also emphasize integrative medicine, with strong involvement at each treatment stage. Meanwhile, the emergence of immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and other novel agents is making the outlook for colorectal cancer treatment increasingly promising.
Looking ahead, overcoming drug resistance in advanced colorectal cancer and reducing local recurrence will be important areas of focus. This will require ongoing exploration of new treatment strategies, such as combined immunotherapy or personalized gene therapy. We also need to strengthen basic research to deepen our understanding of the pathogenesis and biological features of colorectal cancer, providing stronger support for clinical practice.
Oncology Frontier: In China, colorectal cancer is showing a trend toward younger onset. Early diagnosis and treatment, as well as standardized care at the primary level, remain key challenges. What are the biggest challenges doctors face today? What advice do you have for training young physicians and shaping the future of the field?
Professor Chaoxu Zheng:Training young physicians is critically important. This not only aligns with the goals of our committee but is also a core mission of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association. I believe that cultivating young doctors should focus on comprehensiveness and standardization. In clinical practice, we’ve established dedicated training programs, including continuing education initiatives at the national, provincial, and county levels. Despite busy schedules, we set aside time every Thursday afternoon for structured education sessions, covering surgical skills, disease management, accurate pathological diagnosis, and multidisciplinary consultations.
At the same time, we place a strong emphasis on consistency in training to avoid variations in standards between instructors. To support this, we have published guidelines and expert consensus statements to ensure training is unified and standardized. These training programs are tailored to various levels of institutions, from county and municipal hospitals to top-tier tertiary centers.
We have also launched several special initiatives, including the “Red Journey Public Welfare Tour” and the Colorectal Minimally Invasive Surgery MDT Training Program, both of which have received strong support from all sectors of society. These efforts are extremely valuable for talent development.
Our department actively creates opportunities for young physicians to showcase their skills, encouraging them to participate in national surgical skill competitions, MDT contests, and the Chinese Medical Association’s surgical youth competitions. We encourage early involvement and collaboration among peers to gain hands-on experience. In fact, our team has achieved outstanding results in national competitions. Last year, a young female physician from our department competed in an MDT contest and, after advancing through multiple rounds, won the championship. Such experiences are vital for young physicians’ growth.
In conclusion, colorectal cancer prevention and treatment is a long-term endeavor that requires collaboration among the nation, society, and individuals. From the international promotion of NOSES to the standardization of training at the grassroots level, and the ongoing exploration of AI and integrative medicine, the Chinese Medical Doctor Association Colorectal Oncology Committee is advancing on all fronts. As Professor Chaoxu Zheng stated: “The ultimate goal of medicine is to help patients live with dignity. Whether through technological innovation or talent development, we will remain true to this mission.”
Expert Profile: Professor Chaoxu Zheng
- Director of the Colorectal Surgery Ward, National Cancer Center / Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical SciencesDoctor of Clinical Medicine, Peking Union Medical College
- Chief Physician, Doctoral and Postdoctoral Supervisor
- Vice Chair, Colorectal Cancer Screening & Prevention Integration Committee, Chinese Anti-Cancer Association
- Deputy Leader, Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition Group, Colorectal Oncology Committee, Chinese Medical Doctor Association
- Member, Oncology Nutrition Support Group, Chinese Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition
- Standing Member, Elderly Gastrointestinal Surgery Branch, Chinese Association of Geriatric Health Medicine
- Standing Member, Abdominal Oncology Rehabilitation Branch, Chinese Medical Education Association
- Vice President, External Tumor Treatment Committee, World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies
- Deputy Secretary-General, Palliative Care Committee, Beijing Anti-Cancer Association
- Standing Member, Colorectal Oncology Committee, Beijing Integrative Medicine Association
- Deputy Leader, Translational Medicine Expert Committee, China Productivity Promotion Center Association
