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Chen
Delphine Chen, MD
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Delphine Chen, MD

Radiology

  • Director of Molecular Imaging and Therapy, Fred Hutch
  • Professor, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutch
  • Professor, Department of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine
  • Wil B. Nelp, MD Endowed Professorship in Nuclear Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine

About

Dr. Delphine Chen is a board-certified nuclear medicine physician and scientist at Fred Hutch specializing in cancer imaging, positron emission tomography and molecular imaging.

Background

Dr. Chen has more than two decades of experience in positron emission tomography (PET) and nuclear medicine–based imaging and therapy. She is the director of Fred Hutch Molecular Imaging and Therapy, a rapidly expanding field that uses small amounts of radioactive materials to show how the body is functioning at the cellular and molecular levels. This information can help clarify how cancers behave and guide treatment decisions.

Her clinical expertise includes the full spectrum of nuclear medicine diagnostic tests and procedures, and she provides care to people undergoing cancer imaging and therapy. Dr. Chen’s research focuses on developing and translating new imaging tools that can better predict how tumors respond to treatment. She led the first in-human trial of PET tracers that detect cell death, forming the foundation for ongoing clinical trials across three major U.S. medical centers. These studies are exploring how PARP radiotracers may identify patients most likely to benefit from PARP inhibitors, a class of anti-cancer drugs commonly used in BRCA-related cancers. She and her colleagues plan to expand this research at Fred Hutch.

Dr. Chen’s work aims to advance nuclear medicine by finding and testing new diagnostic and therapeutic agents for clinical use. Her contributions have earned recognition including the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation Clinical Investigator Award and selection as a Distinguished Investigator by the Academy for Radiology and Biomedical Imaging Research. She is also a member of the Institute for Prostate Cancer Research, a collaboration between Fred Hutch and UW Medicine.

Area of Clinical Practice
Cancer imaging and therapy

“I like taking the time to understand your story. Cancer treatment is complicated, and the better I know you, the better I can provide care.”

— Dr. Chen

How has cancer affected you personally?

My mother and grandfather both had cancer. While my mother survived, my grandfather passed away. I’ve seen firsthand how hard it is for patients to go through cancer treatments. It’s an emotionally and physically exhausting journey, both for the patients themselves and for those who love them. Going through those experiences serves as a constant reminder that people facing cancer need support across multiple areas of their lives as they go through imaging studies and treatments.

What’s it like to work with you?

I want to know the whole you, not just your medical condition. I like taking the time to understand your story. Cancer treatment is complicated, and the better I know you, the better I can provide care on all fronts. My area of medicine is highly specialized, so I strive to clearly explain how nuclear medicine therapies work and how these therapies fit within the context of other available options. I believe in empowering you to be an active participant in your care and providing all the information you need to thoroughly understand your treatment. Your questions make me a better physician.

Diseases Treated

Neuroendocrine Tumors

Prostate Cancer

Paraganglioma

Thyroid Cancer

Diseases Researched

Breast Cancer

Colon Cancer

Colorectal Cancer

Cutaneous Lymphoma

Endocrine Tumors

Hodgkin Lymphoma

Kidney Cancer

Lung Cancer

Lymphoma

Multiple Myeloma

Neuroendocrine Tumors

Pancreatic Cancer

Prostate Cancer

Skin Cancer

Languages

English

Education and Experience

Fellowship, Nuclear Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine

Residency, Nuclear Medicine, Barnes-Jewish Hospital

MD, Washington University School of Medicine

BS, AB Applied Mathematics, Harvard-Radcliffe College

Board Certifications

Nuclear Medicine, 2006, American Board of Nuclear Medicine

Awards

Seattle Met's 2025 Top Doctors Award
Dr. Chen has received this peer-nominated award for her exceptional patient care multiple years in a row.

Mark A. Tetalman, MD, Memorial Award
Dr. Chen received this award in 2009. Funded by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, the award honors the accomplishments of young researchers in the field of nuclear medicine.

Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation Clinical Investigator Award
Dr. Chen received this award in 2006 in support of her research into PET imaging and how it can be used to drive cancer treatment decisions.

Clinical Trials

We make promising new treatments available to you through studies called clinical trials led by Fred Hutch physicians and researchers. Many of these trials at Fred Hutch have led to FDA-approved treatments and have improved standards of care globally. Together, you and your physician can decide if a study is right for you. 

Find a Clinical Trial Led by Dr. Chen

Publications

Many of our Fred Hutch physicians and researchers conduct ongoing research to improve standards of patient care. Their work is evaluated by other physicians and selected for publication to the United States National Library of Medicine, the largest medical library in the world. See scientific papers this Fred Hutch physician has written.

View Dr. Chen's Publications

Your Care Team

At Fred Hutch, you receive care from a team of providers with extensive experience in your disease. Your team includes physicians, a patient care coordinator, a registered nurse, an advanced practice provider and others, based on your needs. You also have access to experts like registered dietitians, social workers, acupuncturists, psychiatrists and more who specialize in supporting people with cancer or blood disorders. 

Meet Other Providers

Insurance

Fred Hutch accepts most national private health insurance plans as well as Medicare. We also accept Medicaid for people from Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho. We are working to ensure that everyone, no matter what their financial situation, has access to the care they need.

More About Insurance

Stories

All news
Research into targeted treatments, better prediction models in breast cancer funded
Research into targeted treatments, better prediction models in breast cancer funded Breast Cancer Research Foundation continues support for research by Fred Hutch/UW/Seattle Children’s Cancer Consortium physicians and scientists November 16, 2023
Second Fred Hutch clinic building opens in Seattle
Second Fred Hutch clinic building opens in Seattle New building in South Lake Union comes with new imaging suites, automated parking and a care model that puts patients at the center of everything March 23, 2023
For the latest nuclear medicine therapies, look to Fred Hutch
For the latest nuclear medicine therapies, look to Fred Hutch February 16, 2023