Department of Hematology
Department of Hematology

The Department of Hematology was established in 1974 and has since developed into a comprehensively strong specialty dedicated to medical care, education, and research. It currently comprises four subspecialties (Leukemia, Thrombosis & Hemostasis, Lymphoma/Myeloma, and Bone Marrow Transplantation) and two specialized laboratories (Thrombosis & Hemostasis, and Cytomorphology). The department operates 50 general inpatient beds and 5 transplant unit beds, admitting nearly 2,000 patients annually. The medical team consists of 15 physicians, including 3 Professors/Chief Physicians, 5 Associate Professors/Associate Chief Physicians, 4 Attending Physicians, and 3 Resident Physicians. 100% hold a Master's degree or higher, 75% hold a Doctoral degree, and over 70% have international training experience. The nursing team includes 20 members: 2 Nurse-in-Charge, 11 Senior Nurses, 3 Registered Nurses, and 4 Nursing Technicians.
In the early 1990s, the department pioneered clinical and scientific research in thrombosis and hemostasis in Guangdong Province, with a particular focus on platelet disorders and function. Since 2002, the department has been performing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for conditions including acute leukemia/MDS, severe aplastic anemia, relapsed/refractory lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. Notably, it was the first in China to perform autologous HSCT for relapsing polychondritis.
The diagnosis and treatment of hematologic malignancies are central to the department's clinical work. We have long integrated and refined a MICM (Morphology, Immunology, Cytogenetics, Molecular biology) classification platform encompassing bone marrow cytomorphology, flow cytometric immunophenotyping, chromosome karyotype analysis, FISH for cytogenetics, and PCR for molecular biology. This enables precise, internationally standardized stratification of leukemia, which in turn guides individualized, risk-adapted treatment strategies.
HSCT is an indispensable subspecialty within the department. Our transplant program's regional influence continues to grow, attracting patients from across the country, including Guangxi, Hunan, Guizhou, and Sichuan. We have completed over 400 allogeneic HSCT procedures, with an increasing proportion being haploidentical transplants. This has significantly alleviated the challenge of donor availability, essentially achieving "a donor for every patient." Techniques now routinely applied include intensified/reduced-intensity conditioning combined with donor lymphocyte infusion for refractory/relapsed leukemia/lymphoma; haploidentical HSCT combined with mesenchymal stem cell infusion; post-transplant maintenance with early use of targeted agents and hypomethylating agents in high-risk patients to reduce relapse rates; and early prediction, prevention, and intervention for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Current clinical research is exploring the optimal timing, conditioning regimens, and post-transplant maintenance strategies for allogeneic HSCT in relapsed/refractory lymphoma and multiple myeloma.
The "Thrombosis and Hemostasis" subspecialty is relatively uncommon in Guangdong. As one of the earliest units to establish a thrombosis and hemostasis laboratory, we have made significant contributions in recent years in platelet function testing, monitoring, and guiding related clinical departments in adjusting anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapies, earning recognition from peers and patients. Building on this, we closely integrate clinical trials and research to delve deeper into the role of immune imbalance in the pathogenesis and progression of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) and its regulatory mechanisms. Our department holds a nationally recognized position in treating refractory ITP, particularly through ongoing investigations into mesenchymal stem cell therapy and cytokine profiling.
The Department of Hematology currently has 1 doctoral supervisor and 7 master's supervisors, enrolling multiple doctoral and master's candidates annually. We lead and participate in numerous national, provincial, and ministerial-level research projects as well as clinical studies, including grants from the National Natural Science Foundation General Program and Young Scientists Program, the Guangzhou Science and Technology Plan (Livelihood Technology Research Program), and the Guangdong Natural Science Foundation. Our primary research directions focus on platelet disorders and the pathogenesis and drug resistance mechanisms of hematologic malignancies. Research findings have been published in prestigious domestic and international professional journals such as Leukemia, Haematologica, Cell Death & Disease, Cell Death Discovery, Thrombosis Research, and Leukemia & Lymphoma. Furthermore, the department organizes and co-organizes national and provincial educational workshops and specialty training programs, provides regional specialty consultations, offers counterpart support to institutions within and outside the province, accepts hematology specialists at various career stages for advanced training, and maintains a strong capacity for regional medical outreach.

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The Department of Hematology was one of the early units in Guangdong Province to establish the subspecialty of thrombosis and hemostasis. It has accumulated extensive experience in the diagnosis and treatment of refractory or relapsed immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) and in the monitoring of platelet function. Building on this foundation, the department is conducting in-depth research on the role of immune dysregulation in the development and progression of ITP, as well as investigating the mechanisms of mesenchymal stem cell therapy for ITP. The department undertakes multiple clinical trials and research projects and operates an independent thrombosis and hemostasis laboratory.
In the field of leukemia diagnosis and treatment, the department has achieved precise, internationally standardized stratification of leukemia, and guiding individualized, risk-stratified treatment has become a routine clinical practice. Additionally, the department boasts a team of experts with over 20 years of experience in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), possessing extensive expertise in salvage therapies for various types of leukemia.
Regarding lymphoma treatment, the number of autologous HSCT procedures performed is steadily increasing, and HSCT for relapsed or refractory lymphoma has matured within the department. Leveraging its rich experience in HSCT for leukemia, the department has successfully completed multiple allogeneic HSCT procedures for patients with relapsed or refractory lymphoma.
Since obtaining certification as a National Clinical Trial Base for Pharmaceuticals in 2014, the department has undertaken over 10 international and domestic multicenter projects, all completed to high standards and with exceptional quality. Currently, it is conducting new drug clinical trials covering various conditions, including bleeding and coagulation disorders, relapsed or refractory leukemia, and lymphoma.

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Scientific Research Results

The department currently has a team of 15 physicians, including 3 Professors/Chief Physicians, 5 Associate Professors/Associate Chief Physicians, 4 Attending Physicians, and 3 Resident Physicians. All hold at least a Master’s degree, 75% possess a doctoral degree, and over 70% have overseas training or academic experience. The department includes 1 doctoral supervisor and 7 master’s supervisors. The Master’s program was established in 1992, followed by the Doctoral program in 2006. We now enroll multiple doctoral and master’s candidates each year and are responsible for teaching and training duties for visiting scholars, residents, eight-year medical program students, as well as clinical rotations and internships for undergraduates.
Currently, we lead and participate in various national, provincial, and municipal research projects, including the National Natural Science Foundation General Program, the National Natural Science Foundation Young Scientists Program, the Guangdong Natural Science Foundation, and the Guangzhou Science and Technology Program (Livelihood Technology Research Initiative), along with multiple educational and clinical research projects. Our success rate in securing research funding continues to rise. In 2020, we were awarded three National Natural Science Foundation grants: one General Program and two Young Scientists Program grants. Our primary research focus lies in platelet disorders and mechanisms of drug resistance in leukemia. Our findings have been published in peer-reviewed journals such as Leukemia, Haematologica, Cell Death & Disease, Journal of Cellular Biochemistry, Cell Death Discovery, Thrombosis Research, and Leukemia & Lymphoma.

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