Recently, the Cancer Medical Center of The Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University ("SHHMU") (the Second Clinical Medical College, hereinafter referred to as "the Hospital") has achieved remarkable research progress. Under the meticulous guidance of the research team led by Professor Zeng Yuecan and Professor Tang Wenjun, Kang Yifan and Chen Jinming, 2025 master’s students majoring in Radiation Oncology, have published a major review as the first author and co-first author respectively in Molecular Cancer, a top international journal in oncology (Impact Factor: 33.9). The paper is entitled Calibrating the RT-cGAS-STING axis to drive cold-to-hot tumor transformation: mechanistic foundations and translational strategies for combination with immunotherapy.

This achievement systematically dissects the RT-cGAS-STING signaling axis—the "molecular switch" through which radiotherapy (RT) activates the body’s anti-tumor immune response. It also innovatively proposes clinical translational strategies to transform "cold tumors" into "hot tumors" by calibrating this axis. This milestone not only marks that the Hospital’s research in the interdisciplinary field of precision tumor radiotherapy and immunotherapy has reached a new level, but also fully demonstrates the breakthrough progress made by the Hospital in cultivating high-level medical innovative talents.

"The birth of high-level research achievements is often accompanied by the growth of talent cultivation," said Professor Zeng Yuecan, the corresponding author, when talking about the work published in Molecular Cancer.

He pointed out that the team has always integrated postgraduate training into the entire process of cutting-edge international research. Through the model of "mentor leadership, team collaboration and full participation", students are tempered in real scientific research practice. Kang and Chen were deeply involved in the project from the very beginning of topic conception. Initially, the students mainly focused on the positive effects of radiotherapy in activating immunity. However, through multiple discussions, the team guided them to break away from a single perspective and systematically supplement negative regulatory mechanisms, elevating the paper from a simple mechanistic description to a systematic summary of the regulatory network.

Professor Tang Wenjun recalled that the revision period of the paper coincided with the Lunar New Year holiday, yet close communication between teachers and students never ceased. The team held multiple online and offline discussions during the holiday, repeatedly refining the paper’s logic, mechanistic interpretation and graphical presentation. "Such an intensive and immersive polishing process has enabled the students to rapidly develop rigorous and comprehensive scientific thinking in practice."

"As a first-year professional master’s student, publishing a review in a top journal with an IF of 33.9 has made me deeply realize the importance of ‘starting early’," Kang Yifan shared. Right after his re-examination, Kang took the initiative to join his supervisor’s research group and quickly got up to speed through intensive literature presentations twice a week. Under the precise guidance of his supervisors, he focused on the cutting-edge direction of "cold-to-hot tumor transformation".

On the path of research, Professors Zeng and Tang not only supervised the topic selection but also provided meticulous guidance on the paper’s structure and logical reasoning. The team maintained close communication even during the Spring Festival holiday to refine the manuscript repeatedly. To improve the quality of the paper, Kang also taught himself R language for data analysis and scientific plotting, translating complex signaling pathways into intuitive vector diagrams.

"Professional master’s students can absolutely conduct high-quality research alongside clinical rotations," Kang noted. "The key lies in maintaining a keen scientific insight, making good use of the resources of the supervisor team, and mastering essential research skills."

"As a new professional master’s student, being able to publish a review in a top journal benefits from the team’s mentoring and training model," Chen Jinming expressed with emotion. He joined the research team of Professors Zeng Yuecan and Tang Wenjun right after his re-examination and identified his research direction through early literature study.

The writing process was full of challenges. The initial draft focused on the positive effects of radiotherapy in immune activation. Inspired by the supervisors, the team systematically supplemented negative regulatory mechanisms, expanding a single activation mechanism into a complete immune regulatory network. During the Spring Festival holiday, the teachers and students polished the manuscript repeatedly through online and offline discussions, ultimately completing the transformation from a "narrative" to a systematic framework.

"Excellent scientific research requires teamwork, and more importantly, the translation of clinical thinking into scientific logic," Chen stated. He will continue to explore the integration of basic research and clinical practice, contributing to the cause of cancer prevention and treatment.

The publication of this research achievement is not only another important breakthrough of the team led by Professors Zeng Yuecan and Tang Wenjun in the field of tumor radiotherapy and immunotherapy, but also reflects the innovative model and outstanding effectiveness of the Hospital’s medical postgraduate training. Led by high-level mentor teams, driven by cutting-edge research projects and supported by interdisciplinary collaboration, SHHMU has continuously provided young scholars with a growth platform that "balances clinical practice and scientific research", helping them stand out on the international academic stage.

In the future, the Hospital will further deepen the development strategy of "synergy among medicine, education and research", promote basic and clinical research on precision tumor therapy, further optimize radiotherapy-immunotherapy combination strategies, and accelerate the clinical translation of research achievements, so that more patients can benefit from advances in precision medicine.