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Collisson
Eric Collisson, MD

Eric Collisson, MD

Medical Oncology

  • Physician, Fred Hutch
  • Director, Translational Integration, Stuart and Molly Sloan Precision Oncology Institute, Fred Hutch
  • Professor, Human Biology Division, Fred Hutch
  • Professor, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Washington School of Medicine
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About

Dr. Eric Collisson is a board-certified medical oncologist and researcher who sees patients with gastrointestinal cancers at Fred Hutch. He leads clinical research in cancer genomics.

Background

In patient care, Dr. Collisson applies new technologies and emphasizes precision medicine, using information about a patient’s genetics and the genetics of their tumor to better understand cancer risk and predict how a tumor may respond to therapy.

Dr. Collisson’s research further explores how tumor genetics and the immune environment interact to shape cancer behavior. He studies genetic drivers within tumors and how differences between cancer cells, even within the same patient, can influence how cancers grow, spread and avoid immune attack. A key focus of his work is understanding how a tumor’s molecular features intersect with the immune system, which may explain why some cancers resist treatment.

Working in translational oncology, Dr. Collisson looks at ways to adopt early technologies, both therapeutic and diagnostic. Patients help him and his team to figure out if things are doing what researchers want them to do. He views collaboration as essential to this work.

Area of Clinical Practice
Gastrointestinal cancers

“Oncology advances come quickly, and not to all patients at the same time. My role as a physician scientist is to know what is coming up, whom it is best suited for and to build out the next treatments for future patients.”

— Dr. Collisson

What brought you to oncology?

I was always intrigued by the genetics of cancer, and when I was in college, we were just starting to understand the human genome. It was like the biggest book no one had ever read, and just one or two “misspellings” can make a cell that can still do all the things it needs to do, but then later turns into something harmful. I was amazed by that process, and that sent me on the path to becoming a clinical researcher and physician.

What do you hope it’s like for a patient to work with you?

I think patients appreciate my directness and compassionate clarity. Every clinic encounter is an invitation to have a courageous conversation about the patient’s life stage, the cancer’s activity and our therapy’s effects. These conversations, when they go well, leave patients understanding where they stand in their course and empowered to exert their autonomy. 

Diseases Treated

Colon Cancer

Esophageal Cancer

Gastrointestinal Cancer

Pancreatic Cancer

Rectal Cancer

Stomach Cancer

Languages

English
Spanish

Education and Experience

Fellowship, Hematology and Medical Oncology, University of California, San Francisco 

Residency, Internal Medicine, Stanford Health Care – Sponsored Stanford University 

MD, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA 

BA, University of California, Berkeley

Board Certification

Medical Oncology, American Board of Internal Medicine

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.

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Publications

Many of our Fred Hutch physicians and researchers conduct ongoing research to improve standards of patient care. Their work is evaluated by others in their field 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. Collisson'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.

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