Larry Black, 65, began having trouble swallowing. An endoscopy in March 2025 led to a cancer diagnosis. His wife, Jamie, told PEOPLE that he was initially diagnosed with stage III disease. Later reporting from Shenzhen identified the cancer as adenocarcinoma at the junction of the esophagus and stomach.
Larry received chemotherapy before and after surgery in California. In March 2026, a scan showed that the cancer had spread to the lining of his abdomen. Jamie said they tried more chemotherapy, but the disease continued to progress.
Jamie searched for studies using a marker found in Larry’s tumor, CLDN18.2. That led her to satri-cel, a CAR-T therapy China had approved in June for certain advanced stomach and gastroesophageal junction cancers. The treatment did not have U.S. FDA approval when they traveled. Facing substantial treatment and travel costs, the couple flew from Los Angeles to Hong Kong on September 6 and continued to Shenzhen.
Larry received the infusion at the University of Hong Kong–Shenzhen Hospital on September 29. He developed fever and swelling in his legs, and his condition stabilized about ten days later, according to the hospital account. By November 2, he had been discharged, and the hospital reported that his tumor had shrunk on early follow-up. His longer-term outcome remains unknown in the reporting reviewed.
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China Care did not provide the care described. This story does not imply a relationship with the patient or hospital, or that China Care can arrange the same treatment. Individual outcomes do not predict other patients’ results. This is editorial information, not medical advice.