Editor's Note: On October 18-19, 2024, the CACA Integrated Gastric Cancer Conference concluded successfully in Wuhan, gathering global authorities in gastric cancer to discuss the latest advancements, pioneering developments, and standardized protocols for gastric cancer treatment. During the event, the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association Gastric Cancer Professional Committee (CGCA) completed its transition, electing Dr. Lin Chen from Peking University International Hospital as the new Chairman.Oncology Frontier had the privilege to conduct an in-depth interview with Dr. Lin Chen at the conference to discuss the future priorities and development strategies for the CGCA.

Oncology Frontier: Congratulations on becoming the Chairman of the CGCA Gastric Cancer Professional Committee. What are your primary goals in this role, and how do you plan to advance gastric cancer prevention and treatment?

Dr. Lin Chen: The CGCA has successfully completed its transition, and I am honored to have been chosen as the new Chairman. I am immensely grateful for the support and trust from all committee experts and the guidance provided by the CACA. Our next steps involve the following key initiatives:

First, we will work under the leadership of the CACA, implementing the integrated oncology concept advocated by President Academician Fan. This concept will be central to gastric cancer standards and clinical practices, ensuring that our research and clinical work reflect the core of integrated oncology.

Second, we aim to expand the CGCA’s membership. Currently, the committee has 180 members from 103 hospitals across 31 provinces and cities. However, we intend to recruit more specialized members, reinforcing our ranks to promote and implement the CGCA gastric cancer guidelines on a national scale.

Third, we will enhance internal development and technical standards by identifying outstanding techniques and projects in gastric cancer treatment across China. These will be incorporated into the Chinese gastric cancer guidelines, and the upcoming 2024 CGCA Gastric Cancer Guidelines will feature data from Chinese studies. Continuous refinement will ensure that the guidelines contribute significantly to raising gastric cancer treatment standards across the country.

Finally, we aim to increase our international influence by strengthening ties with gastric cancer committees in Japan, South Korea, and the International Gastric Cancer Association (IGCA). We will actively pursue hosting the next International Gastric Cancer Congress (IGCC) in China, further establishing our international standing.

Oncology Frontier: What are your plans to support the growth of young scholars? What initiatives or policies will you implement to provide them with opportunities?

Dr. Lin Chen: Young scholars are the future of gastric cancer research. To support their growth, we have established a youth organization within both the CACA and CGCA. Additionally, we plan to develop personalized training programs focused on mentoring young doctors in fundamental theory and practical skills, with surgeons specializing in laparoscopic and robotic surgery and physicians focusing on diagnostic and therapeutic training.

Improving research skills among young doctors is equally essential. Sustaining our field’s progress requires clinical and foundational research. We are also organizing competitions and evaluations, such as surgical skills contests and research paper awards, to inspire improvement and discover new talent.

Oncology Frontier: How should the CGCA strengthen cooperation with international peers to jointly improve gastric cancer prevention and treatment? Could you share specific collaboration plans?

Dr. Lin Chen: We will continue strengthening exchanges with Japanese and South Korean gastric cancer societies, as our countries all face high gastric cancer incidence. Over the past decade, China has made significant advances in gastric cancer diagnosis and treatment, positioning us as equal partners in sharing data and innovations with these countries. The CGCA platform will also host dedicated China-Japan, China-Korea, and trilateral exchange sessions to further these collaborations.

We plan to send young doctors to top centers in Japan and South Korea for training and invite their experts to China for clinical research and innovation discussions. Hosting the next IGCC in China is also a top priority, which will allow us to showcase our achievements and amplify the “Voice of China” on the global stage.

Dr. Lin Chen

• Deputy Director, Oncology Center, Peking University International Hospital

• Chief of General Surgery and Gastrointestinal Surgery

• Professor and PhD Supervisor at PLA Medical School, Nankai University Medical School, and Tsinghua University Medical School

• Chair, CGCA Gastric Cancer Professional Committee

• Standing Member, Surgery Branch, Chinese Medical Association

• Consultant Expert, Central Health Commission