Taipei Veterans General Hospital advances pancreatic cancer treatment

Taipei Veterans General Hospital (TVGH) hosted the ‘2026 Pancreatic Cancer Multimodal Treatment International Symposium’ (MTPC 2026) to address the challenges of pancreatic cancer, which has a five-year survival rate of only 9.8%.

TVGH President Chen Wei-ming highlighted that the institution is among the few globally to offer both heavy ion therapy and Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT). Since its heavy ion center opened three years ago, the hospital has treated over 800 patients, approximately 30% of whom had pancreatic cancer. Notably, TVGH reports the highest number of successful conversion surgeries globally, where patients previously deemed inoperable undergo surgery after receiving chemotherapy combined with heavy ion therapy.

Symposium chair Shi Yi-ming noted that treatment has shifted toward a ‘team battle’ approach, integrating chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and precision medicine. Currently, over 70% of pancreatic surgeries at the hospital are performed using robotic platforms. The symposium also covered advancements in AI-assisted diagnosis, cancer vaccines, KRAS targeted drugs, and cell immunotherapy. Additionally, TVGH has signed a memorandum of understanding with NYU Langone Health to foster international cooperation in clinical research and education.