(People’s Daily Health Client reporter Zhang He, Zhao Yuanzhi, Wang Zhenya)
“Forever Iron Man, China’s CAR-T clinical research expert, Professor Zhou Jianfeng has gone all the way.” “I’m sorry, Professor Zhou, I won’t have the opportunity to send you a bigger pennant in the future. “This time, he can finally rest.” … On the afternoon of March 27, many domestic hematology experts, related researchers and patients, all missed and recalled “Professor Zhou” on social platforms.
Zhou Jianfeng, Director of the Department of Hematology of Wuhan Tongji Hospital, Deputy Director of the Oncology Biomedical Center of Tongji Hospital, the Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, a top celebrity in the field of hematology and tumor in China, and a leader in CAR-T therapy, At noon on March 27, 2022, he died of a sudden coronary artery dissection and the rescue was ineffective.
On March 22, 2022, Professor Zhou Jianfeng was invited to explain the clinical application of CAR-T in the live broadcast column of “People’s Famous Doctors” on the People’s Daily Health Client. After the live broadcast, the staff knew that during the one-hour interview, Zhou Jianfeng’s right hand had been infused with fluid.
“Before it’s too late, send a bigger pennant”
Wuhan Tongji Hospital has a group of patients named “Happy Island”.
On the afternoon of March 26, Liu Daqi (pseudonym), a patient who had been treated by Zhou Jianfeng, told the People’s Daily Health Client reporter that there were nearly 500 people in this group, and only patients from Tongji, Wuhan could enter. , will regularly release the latest news of some hospitals, patients will communicate their conditions, and there are also some doctors from Wuhan Tongji in the group. If there are any questions from patients, the doctors will answer them. In this group, they are all patients of Professor Zhou Jianfeng.
“Dear colleagues, it is with an extremely sad and unacceptable heart that I report bad news to you! Professor Zhou Jianfeng, the chairman of our special committee, was unable to rescue him due to a sudden coronary dissection rupture. Yu left for good at noon today! God is jealous of the talent! This is a major loss for our special committee and the entire hematology community! May Professor Jianfeng rest in peace in heaven!” Liu Daqi told reporters that the staff informed Qunyou Professor Zhou in the group After death, many patients cried. “Professor Zhou saved many lives.”
Zhou Jianfeng hugs the patient. Photo courtesy of the respondent
On September 16, 2021, Liu Daqi was hospitalized in Tongji, Wuhan. In the ward, a cured patient presented Zhou Jianfeng with a pennant, and the two hugged tightly. “We were also very moved at the time, and thought to ourselves, when I get better, I will send a bigger pennant to Professor Zhou.” After learning of Zhou Jianfeng’s death, Liu Daqi wrote on Weibo, “I’m sorry, Professor Zhou, I will never see you again in the future. Here’s an opportunity to send you a bigger pennant.”
Zhou Dayu (pseudonym), another middle-aged patient who was rescued in Tongji, Wuhan last year, told the People’s Daily health client that Professor Zhou insisted on the rescue until two in the morning. Another family member of the patient said, “He was too tired. Dad cried at home after hearing the news. Without him, my father would not be where he is today. He is a lifesaver for so many people.”
He’s the “pivot” for all young people
At the end of January 2020, at the darkest moment of the epidemic in Wuhan, in Professor Zhou Jianfeng’s circle of friends, he was moved by the enthusiasm of colleagues in the department to sign up for the front-line dialogue. He once posted screenshots of many colleagues’ invitations to battle in the circle of friends, saying: “Respectable brothers and sisters, in the face of danger, choose to take responsibility and pay tribute to everyone! I think this is the most beautiful place in human nature, and it is the biggest challenge for us to overcome difficulties. The source of strength.” Behind these screenshots is a department director who has joined the front line of the fight against the epidemic without even writing a petition.
A young doctor who once entered the red zone to fight the epidemic at the end of January told reporters that Professor Zhou often posted touching stories of colleagues, but never mentioned himself. “What he said the most at that time was that if we stick to it, the patient can feel at ease. In fact, he doesn’t know, he is also our ‘safety’.”
The darkest hour has passed, and the bright will come. But for a doctor, it was a fresh start. The epidemic in our country is under control, but we will share our experience without reservation, hoping to include a larger sample and save more new crown patients around the world. “In July 2020, Zhou Jianfeng and his team are still committed to the research on the treatment of severe COVID-19 patients.
“We plan to publish the algorithm on the Internet, so that colleagues around the world can use this formula to calculate the severity of a patient’s cytokines and assess the risk of a patient’s admission to the ICU and the risk of death.” Zhou Jianfeng’s team Research is still continuing.
“I am full of confidence in the prospects of CAR-T in China”
On September 3rd, my country’s first class 1 biological new drug CAR-T product, Ruiki Aurexa, was officially approved for clinical use.On the day of the launch, Professor Zhou Jianfeng issued the country’s first prescription for the patient.
“The first patient, Da Xiong (pseudonym), who received domestic CAR-T treatment, suffered from double-hit diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with a higher degree of malignancy, and was treated with existing chemotherapy. Method treatment may only have a 20%-30% survival rate.” Zhou Jianfeng said in an interview with the People’s Daily Health Client on November 18, 2021 that CAR-T therapy can be called a milestone breakthrough in the field of tumor treatment, it is a miracle It has “cured” many cancer patients and changed the fate of the patients. Emily, the world’s first childhood leukemia patient who received CAR-T treatment, is still healthy and has not relapsed until 9 years later. Her disease has actually reached the standard of cure.
“CAR-T is different from previous anti-cancer drugs,” it is a ‘living’ drug. “Professor Zhou Jianfeng pointed out in particular, “The entire production process includes 38 steps, and the production cost itself is also very high. “He also predicted that with the advancement of technology and craftsmanship, the price of so-called “high-priced anticancer drugs” will gradually drop, “but we have to go through a painful process, which will take time. “
“This is the closest my country’s anticancer drug level to the international one.” Professor Zhou Jianfeng once said that he is full of confidence in the prospect of CAR-T’s clinical application in China.
“The clinical application of CAR-T in China will get better and better, and it will definitely save more patients.” We all believe it.
