Editor's Note: On October 19-20, 2024, the first stop of the "St. Gallen Breast Cancer Conference (SGBCC) China Tour" was held in Nanjing. This series of events, organized by the Breast Cancer Expert Committee of the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO), the Beijing CSCO Clinical Oncology Research Foundation, the Beijing Kexin Medical Development Foundation, and the Jiangsu Anti-Cancer Association, and hosted by Jiangsu Provincial  Hospital, facilitated the exchange of knowledge between Chinese and foreign experts and laid the foundation for updating the new "St. Gallen International Expert Consensus." As the first Chinese female expert to join the SGBCC expert team, Dr. Yongmei Yin from Jiangsu Provincial Hospital initiated and promoted the "SGBCC China Tour" series to elevate global standards in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, showcasing the strength of Chinese female experts. Oncology Frontier has invited Dr. Yongmei Yin to share her motivation behind organizing this series and her future plans.

01

Oncology Frontier: As the first Chinese female expert to join the SGBCC expert team, what are your feelings and expectations in this role?

Dr. Yongmei Yin: Thank you very much, Oncology Frontier, for this interview and for your attention to the Nanjing launch of the “SGBCC China Tour.” Previously, several experts from mainland China, including Professor Zefei Jiang, Academician Binghe Xu, and Professor Zhimin Shao, had joined the SGBCC chair team. I am also very grateful for the opportunity to join as a female doctor from China. To me, this role is not only an honor but a responsibility. When developing the “St. Gallen International Expert Consensus,” it is essential to follow evidence-based medical principles. However, female oncology doctors may also offer valuable insights from a woman’s perspective, considering factors like the psychological and physiological needs of female breast cancer patients and their roles in family and society, beyond standardized treatment.

02

Oncology Frontier: The first stop of the “SGBCC China Tour” was launched in Nanjing. Could you share the original purpose of this event and your plans for the future?

Dr. Yongmei Yin: After joining the expert team for the 2025 SGBCC, I was inspired to organize the “SGBCC China Tour” and hoped to bring SGBCC’s content to experts and scholars in China. Before the global COVID-19 pandemic, SGBCC had garnered considerable attention from breast cancer experts in China, with many experts attending each conference in person. The pandemic significantly disrupted SGBCC’s organization and exchange. Now, Professor Michael Gnant, SGBCC chair, and Professor Zefei Jiang, President-Elect of CSCO, are eager to resume exchanges between experts from China and abroad. Motivated by their enthusiasm and support, I organized the first stop of the “SGBCC China Tour,” hosted by Jiangsu Provincial  Hospital.

During this conference, we were honored to have Professor Michael Gnant, Professor Zefei Jiang, and Professor Toshiaki Toi, President of the Japanese Breast Cancer Society and an SGBCC member, attend in person. We also received substantial support from Academician Binghe Xu and Professor Zhimin Shao. At the event, Professor Gnant, Professor Toi, and Professor Jiang shared the vision for the 2025 “St. Gallen International Expert Consensus,” updates on the Japanese Breast Cancer Society’s current work, and research advancements led by Chinese experts that could influence clinical practice. The three professors engaged in deep exchanges with breast cancer colleagues from more than 40 hospitals in China, sparking great interest in the future of the “SGBCC China Tour.” We look forward to launching a series of learning activities related to the “St. Gallen International Expert Consensus” in various cities across China after the SGBCC conference next year.

03

Oncology Frontier: What were the highlights of the first “SGBCC China Tour”? What exciting content can we look forward to?

Dr. Yongmei Yin: Evidence-based medical evidence is continuously evolving and updating, providing more foundations for consensus and guideline updates in clinical practice. Therefore, whether as a new SGBCC member or as an ordinary oncology doctor, it is essential to pay attention to the topics discussed at each conference. At this conference, the topic of “patient-centered care” was thoroughly explored, with many experts from China and abroad sharing their excellent patient management experiences. I deeply felt that breast cancer experts, both domestic and international, have a common goal: to provide better treatment for patients, helping them achieve better survival benefits and a higher quality of life.

04

Oncology Frontier: How do you plan to use the SGBCC platform to bring more Chinese perspectives to the world?

Dr. Yongmei Yin: When I received the notification from SGBCC, I was also asked to record a lecture on the current survival status of breast cancer patients. As a Chinese doctor, I believe SGBCC may be particularly interested in the survival status in developing countries, so I need to gather more data in this area. In China, breast cancer patients vary widely in terms of treatment and management across regions and levels of hospitals, which can impact the effectiveness of subsequent treatments and patient survival. Therefore, understanding and analyzing these disparities, and developing more standardized diagnosis and treatment practices under the guidance of professional societies to improve breast cancer treatment outcomes and patient prognosis in China, are topics worthy of deep consideration.

Dr. Yongmei Yin

• Vice President, Jiangsu Provincial  Hospital
• Professor, Chief Physician, PhD Supervisor
• Vice Chairman, Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO)
• Secretary-General, CSCO Breast Cancer Expert Committee
• Director, CSCO Patient Education Expert Committee
• Deputy Director, CSCO Smart Medicine Professional Committee
• Executive Member, Breast Cancer Professional Committee, Chinese Anti-Cancer Association (CBCS)