SEATTLE — May 6, 2025 — Below are summaries of recent Fred Hutch Cancer Center research findings, patient stories and other news.
If you’re covering the annual meeting of the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) from May 13-17 in New Orleans or the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting from May 30 – June 3 in Chicago, connect with our media team at media@fredhutch.org.
May is the awareness month for mental health as well as brain, bladder and melanoma and skin cancers. Reach out to Heather Platisha at hplatisha@fredhutch.org if you’re looking for experts.
Cancer research
Multiple myeloma is treatable, not curable. Is that set to change?
Multiple myeloma is cancer of the bone marrow and considered treatable but not curable. However, according to Rahul Banerjee, MD, FACP, current therapies enable about 70% of patients to stay in remission for five years, with some in remission for decades. These findings lead some providers to call treatments a ‘functional cure’ where patients remain under surveillance but don’t die from their disease, and, according to Madhav Dhodapkar, MBBS, the incoming head of the Fred Hutch Myeloma Program, raise the possibility for a cure for multiple myeloma.
Media contact: Molly McElroy, mwmcelro@fredhutch.org
Rare cancer researchers find promising target in fibrolamellar cancer
Fibrolamellar carcinoma (FLC) is a rare, chemo-resistant liver cancer most often diagnosed in teens and young adults. The disease has no biomarkers or blood tests and few symptoms, making it difficult to detect at an early stage. Taran Gujral, PhD, and Fred Hutch’s TRACER initiative have discovered a flawed pathway driving FLCand launched clinical trials testing likely drug candidates. Research published in BMJ’s Gut by the Gujral Lab is on track to discover the first treatment for FLC.
Media contact: Molly McElroy, mwmcelro@fredhutch.org
RNA “typos” can highlight leukemia cells for immune attack
Research from Robert Bradley, PhD, published in Cell shows specific mutations in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells create ‘typos’ that immune cells can target. Their work also isolated immune cells that can kill leukemia cells without damage to healthy cells. This research lays the foundation to develop immunotherapy treatment for patients with MDS or AML that are caused by certain identifiable mutations. Bradley holds the McIlwain Family Endowed Chair in Data Science.
Media contact: Molly McElroy, mwmcelro@fredhutch.org
$600,000 in ovarian cancer research awards for Fred Hutch and UW
Fred Hutch researcher Megan Shen, PhD, received a grant under the Rivkin Center and CARE Fund partnership for a project aiming to improve ovarian cancer outcomes. Shen’s project will retool HOPE, a support program for patients, for use with providers.
Media contact: Shayla Ring, sring@fredhutch.org
Genetic and genomic research
Rewriting the story about the molecules that turn genes on and off
A study in Nature by researchers in the Hahn Lab revises the standard story about transcription factors binding close to the genes they regulate. That is true only for a small subset of the transcription factors they mapped in budding yeast. The story is more complex for most transcription factors, prompting new research possibilities.
Media contact: Molly McElroy, mwmcelro@fredhutch.org
Managing mountains of genomic data
The volume of genomic sequences of SARS-CoV-2 — a dataset that is orders of magnitude bigger than what’s available for any other pathogen — has overwhelmed the capacity of common analytical methods to make sense of it in a timely and practical manner. Two recently published papers in Nature and Cell from postdoctoral researchers in the Bedford and Bloom labs showcase new tools invented at Fred Hutch that provide researchers traction to manage mass amounts of data.
Media contact: Claire Hudson, crhudson@fredhutch.org
Science spotlight
Science Spotlight is a monthly installment of articles written by postdoctoral fellows that summarizes new research papers from Fred Hutch scientists. If you’re interested in learning more or covering these topics, contact media@fredhutch.org
- Natural born killers: harnessing innate immunity to fight severe infections
- Are states forgetting indigenous peoples in cancer control?
- AMP-ed on HIV prevention
- Can entertainment help save lives? a new study says yes—especially on social media
- Up in the Pol(II)s: hypertranscription predicts cancer outcomes
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Fred Hutch 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.