On May 13, 2025, Dr. Liu Huixia, Deputy Director of the Department of Internal Medicine III at Guangzhou RoyalLee Cancer Hospital, prescribed the first new anti-tumor drug, Lurbinectedin (ZEPZELCA®), in Guangdong Province to a patient with SCLC (small cell lung cancer), providing a brand-new second-line treatment option for SCLC patients in China.

△ Chief Physician Liu Huixia prescribes a prescription for the patient.

Chief Physician

Liu Huixia

Deputy Director of the Internal Medicine III Department

Areas of Expertise

Specializes in the comprehensive treatment of common cancers such as lung cancer, breast cancer, genitourinary system tumors, esophageal cancer, digestive tract tumors, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, cervical cancer, lymphoma, brain metastases, and bone metastases, including radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy.

[Academic Achievements]

With nearly 20 years of experience in frontline clinical oncology work involving concurrent or sequential chemoradiotherapy, I have led teams and treated tens of thousands of patients with various malignant tumors. I serve as a member of the Tumor Microenvironment Professional Committee of the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association, a standing member of the Oncology Professional Committee of the Guangdong Clinical Medical Association, a standing member of the Immunotherapy Branch of the Guangdong Health Association, a member of the Multidisciplinary Oncology Diagnosis and Treatment Professional Committee of the Guangdong Anti-Cancer Association, and a member of the Precision Oncology Committee of the Guangdong Health Association. I have also published numerous SCI papers and articles in national journals.

Regarding SCLC

Lung cancer has the highest incidence and mortality rate among all malignant tumors in my country, with more than 1.06 million new cases in 2022. SCLC accounts for about 15% of all lung cancers and is characterized by its high invasiveness, early metastasis, and extremely poor prognosis. About 60%-70% of patients are already in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) when they seek medical attention.

Although first-line chemotherapy has a high initial response rate, most patients relapse within 2 years of treatment, and the median overall survival (OS) of these patients after further chemotherapy is only 4-6 months. Subsequent-line treatment options are extremely limited.

ZEPZELCA® (Lurbinectedin for Injection)

On June 15, 2020, Lurbinectedin was approved for marketing by the FDA. On December 3, 2024, the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) of China officially approved Lurbinectedin for Injection (trade name: ZEPZELCA®) for marketing, for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic small cell lung cancer whose disease has progressed during or after platinum-based chemotherapy.

01Longer survival opens a new chapter in second-line SCLC treatment.

Strong monotherapy results: ZEPZELCA® achieved an ORR of up to 45.5% and an OS of up to 11.0 months in second-line treatment of Chinese SCLC patients.

Combined therapy: ZEPZELCA® combined with immunotherapy achieved an ORR of up to 66.7% and an OS of up to 14.5 months; combined with chemotherapy followed by maintenance therapy, the OS reached up to 20.7 months.

02One infusion is required on the first day of each cycle, a safe and reliable choice.

03It has been unanimously recommended by authoritative guidelines both domestically and internationally, becoming the new standard of care for second-line treatment of SCLC.

Using new drugs to open a new path for life.

Guangzhou RoyalLee Cancer Hospital firmly believes that innovative drugs are the "sharpest weapons" for doctors treating cancer. As a pioneer in the rapid admission of new and special drugs in South China, our hospital has established an international drug and medical device import process and a fast track for new drugs to improve their accessibility. Our expert team wields these "weapons of life" to bring patients precise treatment plans that are in line with international standards. At our hospital, innovative drugs are not just cold chemical molecules, but a wise arsenal for doctors and patients to fight cancer together.