From September 25-29, 2024, the "27th National Clinical Oncology Conference and 2024 CSCO Annual Meeting," hosted by the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO) and the Beijing Xisike Clinical Oncology Research Foundation, will be held in Xiamen. The conference, themed "Patient-Centered, Sharing the Future," brings together the latest research advancements and developments in the field, both domestically and internationally. For more than 20 years, CSCO has been at the forefront of clinical oncology in China, with experts deeply involved in its growth, advancing their careers through this platform. Hematology Frontier has launched a special "Growing with CSCO" series, inviting Chinese scholars to revisit past stories. In this issue, we invited Dr. Ou Bai, a member of the CSCO United Committee for Lymphoma Intervention (UCLI) and a key figure in the development of the lymphoma specialty at The First Bethune Hospital of Jilin University, to share the story of growing together with CSCO.

Since its establishment in 1997, CSCO has experienced nearly 27 years of remarkable development. During this journey, CSCO has become one of the most authoritative academic organizations in oncology, leading the adoption of cutting-edge technologies, promoting standardized treatment, and actively updating guidelines to achieve uniform cancer care and management across different regions in China. These initiatives have earned widespread recognition, solidifying CSCO’s status as a benchmark in the field.

As CSCO grew, the lymphoma specialty at The First Bethune Hospital of Jilin University also embarked on a path of flourishing development. Since the establishment of the lymphoma specialty group in 2008, we have gradually expanded into a dedicated lymphoma diagnosis and treatment area. In 2018, we formed the Lymphoma Specialty Alliance at The First Bethune Hospital of Jilin University, followed by the creation of the Jilin Province Lymphoma Specialty Alliance in collaboration with multiple provincial medical institutions in 2022. The formation of this alliance, guided by CSCO, allows us to update guidelines annually, promote advanced concepts, and organize educational tours, aiming to keep the lymphoma treatment standards in Jilin Province in line with CSCO and international guidelines for consistent progress.

To further improve lymphoma diagnosis and management, The First Bethune Hospital of Jilin University has established dedicated outpatient services for lymphoid tumors and indolent lymphomas in recent years. These efforts have significantly enhanced our treatment capabilities, with the number of lymphoma cases treated annually reaching 4,000, a twentyfold increase since before 2008.

Our achievements would not have been possible without the establishment of a multidisciplinary (MDT) lymphoma team at The First Bethune Hospital of Jilin University, as well as our active participation in provincial activities like the “Ji-Lin Yue” MDT program and national academic events such as “Lymphoma MDT Forum.” By regularly sharing and discussing cases with national lymphoma treatment centers, we have collectively improved our understanding and experience in diagnosing and treating complex and critically ill patients.

Under the leadership of CSCO, the lymphoma department at The First Bethune Hospital of Jilin University has achieved professional and standardized development, becoming a National Health Commission lymphoma treatment standardization center, a National Cancer Center lymphoma pilot unit, and a CSCO standardized treatment base. These honors and achievements stand as testimonies to CSCO’s growth and leadership.

Moreover, our team has consistently conducted a national guideline education tour for over a decade, covering more than 90% of the country. We actively engage in clinical research with registered clinical trial numbers (NCT), translating research findings into scientific outputs, publishing SCI papers, and securing national-level projects, steadily advancing towards the scale and level of a national lymphoma treatment center.

Finally, we extend our sincerest gratitude to CSCO. As a powerful and professional organization leading progress in China’s oncology field, CSCO’s role is indispensable. The growth journey of the lymphoma specialty at The First Bethune Hospital of Jilin University vividly demonstrates CSCO’s far-reaching impact and exemplifies the success of the national approach to professional development. Through close collaboration with CSCO, we have achieved significant accomplishments in clinical practice, scientific research, and patient services, jointly raising the standard of lymphoma treatment in China to new heights.

Dr. Ou Bai:

Deputy Director, Department of Hematology, First Hospital of Jilin University Leader, Lymphoma Specialty Alliance, First Hospital of Jilin University Clinical Expert, Lymphoma Specialty Project, Capacity Building and Continuing Education Center, National Health Commission Member, Lymphocyte Diseases Group, Hematology Branch, Chinese Medical Association Vice Chair, Second Committee, Hematology Branch, Chinese Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics, and Chair of the Youth Group Deputy Leader, Lymphoma Group, Chinese Medical Women’s Association Committee Member, CSCO United Committee for Lymphoma Intervention (UCLI) Standing Committee Member, Lymphoma Professional Committee, Chinese Anti-Cancer Association Standing Committee Member, Clinical Chemotherapy Professional Committee, Chinese Anti-Cancer Association Deputy Secretary-General, Oncology Branch, Chinese International Exchange and Promotion Association for Medical and Healthcare Chair, Lymphoma Professional Committee, Jilin Provincial Health Management Committee Leader, Jilin Province Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Working Group Outstanding Talent in the Jilin Provincial Health System

Professor Bai has published 110 papers, including 42 SCI papers as the first or corresponding author, and has led 30 research projects funded by the Natural Science Foundation, key projects, and provincial programs.