Search
What are you looking for?
Start main content

Press Releases

Press Releases

https://med.cuhk.edu.hk/press-releases/professor-anthony-chan-honoured-with-the-esmo-lifetime-achievement-award-global-recognition-for-his-leadership-and-outstanding-research-in-nasopharyngeal-cancer
https://med.cuhk.edu.hk/press-releases/professor-anthony-chan-honoured-with-the-esmo-lifetime-achievement-award-global-recognition-for-his-leadership-and-outstanding-research-in-nasopharyngeal-cancer

Professor Anthony Chan honoured with the ESMO Lifetime Achievement Award Global recognition for his leadership and outstanding research in nasopharyngeal cancer

Professor Anthony Chan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Vice-President and Li Shu Fan Medical Foundation Professor of Clinical Oncology at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), has been bestowed the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Lifetime Achievement Award, one of the most prestigious international honours given to cancer researchers, for his lifelong dedication to outstanding research in nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC). Professor Chan has conducted pivotal studies that set new treatment standards in multimodal approaches to locoregionally advanced disease, developed clinical applications of biomarker Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA, and pioneered immunotherapeutic and targeted therapeutics for the disease.

 

Prof Anthony Chan

Professor Chan expressed his heartfelt gratitude and deepest appreciation to his research team and global collaborators for their unwavering and immense support in advancing cancer research over the past 30 years.

Setting new treatment standards for NPC

 

NPC is one of the most aggressive head and neck cancers. It has among the highest incidence rates in Asia and is uniquely prevalent in Southern China, including Hong Kong. Almost three decades ago, NPC was generally diagnosed by surgeons and then, due to its radiation-sensitive nature, managed by radiation oncologists. This approach achieved high rates of local control, but 30% to 50% of patients died because the cancer had metastasised.

 

Professor Chan joined CUHK’s Faculty of Medicine (CU Medicine) in 1993 after specialist training in medical oncology in the UK. His journey towards applying the modern integrated multimodal treatment approach that combines radiotherapy and chemotherapy to the management of advanced nasopharynx cancer began in 1994, with the first multi-centre prospective randomised trial in locoregionally advanced disease, which demonstrated that the addition of concurrent cisplatin to radiotherapy (RT) increased five-year survival rates from 59% to 70% compared with RT alone. This trial resulted in the adoption of concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy (CRT) as the standard of care in the world.

 

Professor Chan conducted further trials in the 2000s and provided randomised data supporting the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in locoregionally advanced NPC. Since 2019, incorporation of neoadjuvant chemotherapy has become the standard treatment practice for NPC.

 

His research team has also achieved many firsts in NPC research, including defining the prognostic significance of post-treatment EBV DNA and using this biomarker to risk-stratify patients for adjuvant therapy; translating epigenetic therapy for nasopharyngeal cancer patients; and more. 

 

Professor Chan has published extensively in international journals and delivered hundreds of international lectures. He has published reviews in The Lancet and Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology, as well as ESMO treatment guidelines for NPC. He has served on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Clinical Oncology and has been Associate Editor of Annals of Oncology since 2014. In addition, Professor Chan has served in various leadership roles in oncology service and research in Hong Kong.  He is currently the Director of the Sir YK Pao Centre for Cancer at the Prince of Wales Hospital, Director of the Hong Kong Cancer Institute, and Chief Director of Phase 1 Clinical Trial Centre and Associate Director of the State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology (CUHK).

 

receiving the award

Professor Anthony Chan is bestowed with the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Lifetime Achievement Award for his lifelong dedication to and outstanding research work in nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC).   Professor Chan is one of the only three Asian scholars who have received this very prestigious global award since its establishment.

Lifelong dedication to NPC lasting more than three decades

 

Acknowledgement

At the award presentation ceremony, Professor Chan delivered the lecture, titled “East meets West: My NPC journey” to review the significant milestones in the management of this cancer in the past three decades  and the future development.

At the award presentation ceremony, Professor Chan said, “I am most grateful to receive this honour from the ESMO and I am deeply thankful to my research team and global collaborators for their immense support in advancing nasopharyngeal cancer research over the past 30 years. Looking ahead, considering immunotherapy is a very hot topic, our research team is finding more active combinations of different immunotherapeutic agents.” 

 

Since the ESMO Lifetime Achievement Award was established, only three Asian scholars have received it. In addition to Professor Chan, the other two are Professor Nagahiro Saijo, the founder of the Japanese Society of Medical Oncology; and Professor Tony Mok, Chairman of the Department of Clinical Oncology at CU Medicine.

 

About the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO)

 

With more than 30,000 members representing oncology professionals from over 168 countries, the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) is the world’s leading professional organisation for medical oncology and the society of reference for oncology education and information. The ESMO is committed to improving the quality of cancer care, from prevention and diagnosis all the way to palliative care and patient follow-up. Its mission is to educate doctors, cancer patients and the general public on the best practices and latest advances in oncology, and to promote equal access to optimal cancer care for all patients.

 

 

More Press Releases

A CUHK-led International Study Demonstrates Immune-checkpoint Inhibitor Is Effective in Patients with Advanced Nasopharyngeal Cancer

A CUHK-led International Study Demonstrates Immune-checkpoint Inhibitor Is Effective in Patients with Advanced Nasopharyngeal Cancer

Research
CUHK Unravels the Whole Genome of Nasopharyngeal Cancer A Great Leap Forward in Personalized Medicine Development

CUHK Unravels the Whole Genome of Nasopharyngeal Cancer A Great Leap Forward in Personalized Medicine Development

Research
CUHK Phase 1 Clinical Trial Centre celebrates 10th anniversary Centre has completed 150 early-stage studies of novel drugs for cancer, diabetes and more

CUHK Phase 1 Clinical Trial Centre celebrates 10th anniversary Centre has completed 150 early-stage studies of novel drugs for cancer, diabetes and more

Research
CUHK study concludes that plasma EBV DNA screening can detect early asymptomatic nasopharyngeal cancer and reflect the risk of future cancer development

CUHK study concludes that plasma EBV DNA screening can detect early asymptomatic nasopharyngeal cancer and reflect the risk of future cancer development

Research
CUHK to Commence the Next-Generation Clinical Trials of CAR-T Cell Therapy for Haematological Malignancy

CUHK to Commence the Next-Generation Clinical Trials of CAR-T Cell Therapy for Haematological Malignancy

Research
Professor Tony MOK Honoured with the ESMO Lifetime Achievement Award Recognising His Global Leadership in Defining Lung Cancer Treatment Standard

Professor Tony MOK Honoured with the ESMO Lifetime Achievement Award Recognising His Global Leadership in Defining Lung Cancer Treatment Standard

Awards and honors
CUHK Research Receives Recognitions by Top Medical Journals

CUHK Research Receives Recognitions by Top Medical Journals

Awards and honors
CUHK Completes a 20,000-person Plasma DNA Screening Study of Nasopharyngeal Cancer, and Finds a Dramatic Shift to Early Stage Cancers

CUHK Completes a 20,000-person Plasma DNA Screening Study of Nasopharyngeal Cancer, and Finds a Dramatic Shift to Early Stage Cancers

Research
CU Medicine developed an innovative mRNA drug for treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

CU Medicine developed an innovative mRNA drug for treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Research
CUHK develops novel molecular classification of cancer-associated fibroblasts across multiple cancers, improving understanding for more targeted treatment

CUHK develops novel molecular classification of cancer-associated fibroblasts across multiple cancers, improving understanding for more targeted treatment

Research
CUHK study finds rising laryngeal cancer rates among women in some locations, despite global decline

CUHK study finds rising laryngeal cancer rates among women in some locations, despite global decline

Research
CU Medicine’s Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Unit preserves the reproductive ability of cancer patients in Hong Kong

CU Medicine’s Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Unit preserves the reproductive ability of cancer patients in Hong Kong

Research
CUHK’s study sees small intestinal cancer incidence rising globally and in Hong Kong Higher incidence observed in high-income countries

CUHK’s study sees small intestinal cancer incidence rising globally and in Hong Kong Higher incidence observed in high-income countries

Research
CUHK study sees a rising trend in primary brain cancer incidence in younger males in high-income countries

CUHK study sees a rising trend in primary brain cancer incidence in younger males in high-income countries

Research
CUHK unlocks the secret of cancer pain  Identifying a new therapeutic key to ending the sorrow

CUHK unlocks the secret of cancer pain Identifying a new therapeutic key to ending the sorrow

Research
CUHK first discovers obese patients with diabetes and fluctuating blood glucose control had a high cancer risk while patients with diabetes treated with a common class of blood pressure lowering drug had a low cancer risk

CUHK first discovers obese patients with diabetes and fluctuating blood glucose control had a high cancer risk while patients with diabetes treated with a common class of blood pressure lowering drug had a low cancer risk

Research
CUHK’s study sees a rising trend of multiple myeloma incidence,  particularly in older males from high-income countries

CUHK’s study sees a rising trend of multiple myeloma incidence, particularly in older males from high-income countries

Research
CUHK receives HK$150 million donation from Li Ka Shing Foundation in support of research and development of biomedical technologies

CUHK receives HK$150 million donation from Li Ka Shing Foundation in support of research and development of biomedical technologies

Donation
CUHK finds the largest rise in incidence of Hodgkin lymphoma in Asia Rising trend of male incidence means Hong Kong tops the world

CUHK finds the largest rise in incidence of Hodgkin lymphoma in Asia Rising trend of male incidence means Hong Kong tops the world

Research
CUHK dissects lung carcinoma at single-cell resolution uncovering a new mechanism for tumour formation

CUHK dissects lung carcinoma at single-cell resolution uncovering a new mechanism for tumour formation

Research
CUHK Study Finds Half of Childhood Cancer Survivors Used Complementary and Alternative Medicine

CUHK Study Finds Half of Childhood Cancer Survivors Used Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Research
Insights into B-cells and GPR18 Gene Expression by CU Medicine team  Improve Prediction of Survival in Multiple Cancer Types

Insights into B-cells and GPR18 Gene Expression by CU Medicine team Improve Prediction of Survival in Multiple Cancer Types

Research
CU Medicine Team Discovers a Novel Prognostic Biomarker for a Doubled Survival in Head and Neck Cancer

CU Medicine Team Discovers a Novel Prognostic Biomarker for a Doubled Survival in Head and Neck Cancer

Research
CUHK in collaboration with West China School of Medicine co-Led World’s First-in-human Clinical Trial using CRISPR technology for lung cancer Confirmed gene-edited T-Cell Therapy is Safe and Feasible in Treatment of Advanced NSCLC

CUHK in collaboration with West China School of Medicine co-Led World’s First-in-human Clinical Trial using CRISPR technology for lung cancer Confirmed gene-edited T-Cell Therapy is Safe and Feasible in Treatment of Advanced NSCLC

Research
CUHK Successfully Conducts Asia-Pacific’s First Hybrid Operating Room Non-invasive Bronchoscopic Microwave Ablation to Treat Lung Cancer

CUHK Successfully Conducts Asia-Pacific’s First Hybrid Operating Room Non-invasive Bronchoscopic Microwave Ablation to Treat Lung Cancer

Surgical advancement
李嘉誠基金會啟動《愛能助》兒童癌症項目 資助兒童罕見癌症 (Chinese version only)

李嘉誠基金會啟動《愛能助》兒童癌症項目 資助兒童罕見癌症 (Chinese version only)

Donation
CUHK Receives an International Cancer Care Team Award Nominated by Patients

CUHK Receives an International Cancer Care Team Award Nominated by Patients

Awards and honors
CUHK Launches Multi-Cancer Prevention Programme Providing Free Screening to 10,000 HK Residents to Study Links with Obesity

CUHK Launches Multi-Cancer Prevention Programme Providing Free Screening to 10,000 HK Residents to Study Links with Obesity

Health Campaign
CUHK-led Global Study Sees Improvement in Overall Survival in Patients with Advanced Lung Cancer

CUHK-led Global Study Sees Improvement in Overall Survival in Patients with Advanced Lung Cancer

Research
CUHK Study Sees Increasing Global Incidence of Colorectal Cancer Among Younger People

CUHK Study Sees Increasing Global Incidence of Colorectal Cancer Among Younger People

Research
CUHK Pioneers Early Lung Cancer Treatment with Hybrid Operating Room Image Guided Electromagnetic Navigation Bronchoscopy

CUHK Pioneers Early Lung Cancer Treatment with Hybrid Operating Room Image Guided Electromagnetic Navigation Bronchoscopy

Surgical advancement
CUHK Study Proves Ablative Chemoembolization Doubles the Progression-Free Survival for Liver Cancer Patients

CUHK Study Proves Ablative Chemoembolization Doubles the Progression-Free Survival for Liver Cancer Patients

Research
CUHK-HKU Study on Multi-gene Mutation-Drug Matching for Recurrent Ovarian Cancer Patients Providing Free Pharmacogenomic Analysis for 100 Patients in Hong Kong

CUHK-HKU Study on Multi-gene Mutation-Drug Matching for Recurrent Ovarian Cancer Patients Providing Free Pharmacogenomic Analysis for 100 Patients in Hong Kong

Research
CUHK-led Research Confirms Novel Targeted Therapy Doubles the Effectiveness of Current Standard Treatment for ALK-Positive Lung Cancer

CUHK-led Research Confirms Novel Targeted Therapy Doubles the Effectiveness of Current Standard Treatment for ALK-Positive Lung Cancer

Research
CUHK Uncovers Novel Immune Escape Mechanism of Cancer Opening Up New Direction for Cancer Immunotherapy

CUHK Uncovers Novel Immune Escape Mechanism of Cancer Opening Up New Direction for Cancer Immunotherapy

Research
The 7th Palliative Care Symposium for Health Care Workers in Chinese Population: ‘Palliative Care in the Community’

The 7th Palliative Care Symposium for Health Care Workers in Chinese Population: ‘Palliative Care in the Community’

Symposium
CUHK Succeeded in Animal Study and Clinical Case of Percutaneous Nanoknife New Breakthrough in Cancer Treatment

CUHK Succeeded in Animal Study and Clinical Case of Percutaneous Nanoknife New Breakthrough in Cancer Treatment

Research
CUHK Opens Phase I Clinical Trial Centre To Step Up New Drug Development in Hong Kong

CUHK Opens Phase I Clinical Trial Centre To Step Up New Drug Development in Hong Kong

Research
CUHK Launches Territory-wide Screening Study for Early Detection of Nasopharynx Cancer Now Recruiting 20,000 Citizens to Join

CUHK Launches Territory-wide Screening Study for Early Detection of Nasopharynx Cancer Now Recruiting 20,000 Citizens to Join

Research
CUHK Discovers Innovative ‘Flow Diverters’ (Pipeline) as Effective Treatment for Cerebral Aneurysms in Asia’s First Clinical Study in Collaboration with Seven Medical Centres

CUHK Discovers Innovative ‘Flow Diverters’ (Pipeline) as Effective Treatment for Cerebral Aneurysms in Asia’s First Clinical Study in Collaboration with Seven Medical Centres

Research
CUHK and HKU Host the 5th Annual Palliative Care Symposium for Health Care Workers in Chinese Population

CUHK and HKU Host the 5th Annual Palliative Care Symposium for Health Care Workers in Chinese Population

Symposium
CUHK Pioneers Innovative Computer Assisted Tumor Surgery for Bone Cancer Patients

CUHK Pioneers Innovative Computer Assisted Tumor Surgery for Bone Cancer Patients

Surgical advancement
Bowel Cancer Will Become Top Cancer in Hong Kong CUHK Introduces Colon Pill Camera to Prevent Bowel Cancer

Bowel Cancer Will Become Top Cancer in Hong Kong CUHK Introduces Colon Pill Camera to Prevent Bowel Cancer

Surgical advancement
The Chinese University of Hong Kong Nethersole School of Nursing hosts the Fifth Pan-Pacific Nursing Conference and Seventh Nursing Symposium on Cancer Care

The Chinese University of Hong Kong Nethersole School of Nursing hosts the Fifth Pan-Pacific Nursing Conference and Seventh Nursing Symposium on Cancer Care

Symposium
Predicting Your Colorectal-polyp Risk with CUHK Colorectal-polyp Prediction Index (CU-CPI)

Predicting Your Colorectal-polyp Risk with CUHK Colorectal-polyp Prediction Index (CU-CPI)

Clinical service

Our Expert List

Many experts under the Faculty of Medicine are available for media interview.
Please click here for the expert list or contact us.