SEATTLE — Dec. 5, 2023 — Below are summaries of recent Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center research findings and other news.
If you’re covering the 65th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition (ASH), see our media tip sheet to learn about what our researchers will present and follow Fred Hutch on social media at #ASH23.
Health equity
New projects advance health equity research
Two public health researchers, Gavin Ha, PhD, and Jason Mendoza, MPH, have received grants to focus on their health equity work in cancer research. Ha was awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to use real-world clinical genomic data to discover new biomarkers that could expand the use of targeted treatments to a wider population of men with prostate cancer. Mendoza received a two-year grant from Washington State’s Andy Hill CARE Fund to develop and pilot a new program for clinical trial guides to boost participation in research studies, especially in underserved populations.
Media contact: Claire Hudson, crhudson@fredhutch.org
How do we increase equity in cancer care?
Hutchinson Institute for Cancer Outcomes Research’s (HICOR) Value in Cancer Care Summit brings together stakeholders in cancer care—patients, patient advocates, clinicians, policymakers, insurance execs and hospital administrators—to discuss ways to improve care for all. This year featured new metrics which showed improvements in the quality of care offered by the state’s cancer clinics, but a panel discussion with Black patients made it clear that lingering biases are still causing harm.
Media contact: Claire Hudson, crhudson@fredhutch.org
Patient care
Risky business: Understanding how numbers, percentages and data impact cancer care
Many patients face challenges in interpreting cancer-related data, such as genetic test results and recurrence probabilities. Despite the abundance of information, they often rely on the guidance of healthcare providers, emphasizing the importance of personalized communication. Fred Hutch’s researchers and providers are striving to improve the quality of data as well as make it easier for patients to understand it.
Media contact: Heather Platisha, hplatisha@fredhutch.org
Lung cancer screening and second hand smoke
Fred Hutch pulmonologist Matthew Triplette, MD, MPH, addresses lung cancer screening for non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke. Low-dose CT screening for lung cancer has been demonstrated to be helpful in patients of a certain age with a personal high-risk smoking history, but that it has not yet been equally helpful in other groups. He notes that it’s important to bring up your concerns with your physician and have a more personalized discussion. While it’s known that family history and second-hand smoke can contribute to lung cancer risk, the highest risk group remains those with a substantial smoking history.
Media contact: Heather Platisha, hplatisha@fredhutch.org
Be the Match connected a Seattle man with donor in Germany
Selina Rüecker, a 25-year-old German donor, saved Rich Hurst's life with a stem cell donation that led to a bone marrow transplant. After two years of anonymity, they met in Germany, forming a deep bond. Hurst, a 71-year-old from Seattle, now shares a unique connection with Rüecker. The Be the Match registry facilitates life-saving connections, highlighting the importance of donors.
Media contact: Heather Platisha, hplatisha@fredhutch.org
Preclinical research
According to a new study published in PLOS Biology, Fred Hutch researchers show that a high-sugar diet induces insulin resistance in glial cells, impairing their role in cleaning up cellular debris in the brain. The findings in fruit flies could help explain how diet influences risk of neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease. The study emphasizes the impact of processed food on cognitive function and highlights the importance of insulin sensitivity for brain health. The research implies that focusing on improving insulin sensitivity may help maintain healthy brain cells and reduce the risk of neurodegenerative disorders.
Media contact: Molly McElroy, mwmcelro@fredhutch.org
Teaming up to understand mysterious microproteins
A multi-institutional team led by Fred Hutch’s Arvind Subramaniam, PhD, has been awarded a $7.5 million Transformative Research Award from the NIH to investigate the roles that microproteins play in biology. The team hopes to reveal why microprotein genes evolve so quickly and whether this reflects a role in immunity and autoimmunity. These insights could help scientists seeking new treatments for autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
Media contact: Molly McElroy, mwmcelro@fredhutch.org
Cancer research
Fred Hutch molecular biologist Changkun Hu, PhD, was named a Jane Coffin Childs – HHMI Fellow. This award will support his work, which focuses on understanding the kinetochore, a critical molecular machine in cell division. Because cell division is so important to human health, the kinetochore’s assembly is carefully regulated and there’s still a lot to learn about that process. A better understanding of that regulation could help scientists see how it goes wrong in diseases like cancer, and guide development of new cancer treatments.
Media contact: Molly McElroy, mwmcelro@fredhutch.org
Research into targeted treatments, better prediction models in breast cancer funded
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation has extended funding for five researchers at Fred Hutchinson/University of Washington/Seattle Children’s Cancer Consortium, focusing on targeted breast cancer treatments and prediction models. Nancy Davidson, MD, and Christopher Li, MD, PhD, are conducting clinical trials and developing models to expand the use of PARP inhibitors and enhance recurrence predictions for various breast cancer subtypes. Anne McTiernan, MD, PhD, Nora Disis, MD and Mary-Claire King, PhD, are focusing on the impact of exercise, anti-inflammatory vaccines, and undiscovered mutations, respectively, contributing to innovative approaches in breast cancer research.
Media contact: Claire Hudson, crhudson@fredhutch.org
Science spotlight
Science Spotlight is a monthly installment of articles written by postdoctoral fellows that summarize new research papers from Fred Hutch scientists. If you’re interested in learning more or covering these topics, contact media@fredhutch.org
- Abnormal bone marrow findings post CAR-T cell therapy help uncover responses to treatment
- Intersectional barriers to HIV/STI healthcare among Washington State transgender and nonbinary communities
- A journey through our genes: the story of prostate cancer's hidden secrets
- Empowering healthy eating in Navajo students through school gardens
- Discoveries go full circle in the hunt for an elusive protein’s function
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Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center unites individualized care and advanced research to provide the latest cancer treatment options while accelerating discoveries that prevent, treat and cure cancer and infectious diseases worldwide.
Based in Seattle, Fred Hutch is an independent, nonprofit organization and the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in Washington. We have earned a global reputation for our track record of discoveries in cancer, infectious disease and basic research, including important advances in bone marrow transplantation, immunotherapy, HIV/AIDS prevention and COVID-19 vaccines. Fred Hutch operates eight clinical care sites that provide medical oncology, infusion, radiation, proton therapy and related services. Fred Hutch also serves as UW Medicine’s cancer program.