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Yu
Evan Ya-Wen Yu, MD
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Evan Ya-Wen Yu, MD

Medical Oncology

  • Physician, Fred Hutch
  • Section Head, Medical Oncology, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutch
  • Medical Director, Clinical Research Support, Fred Hutch/University of Washington/Seattle Children's Cancer Consortium
  • Professor, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutch
  • Assistant Fellowship Director, UW Medicine
  • Professor, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Washington School of Medicine
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About

Dr. Evan Ya-Wen Yu is a board-certified medical oncologist and researcher at Fred Hutch who specializes in genitourinary cancers. His research focuses on testing the next wave of novel molecular targeted therapies and immunotherapy techniques.

Background

Dr. Yu cares for patients with prostate, bladder and testicular cancers. He has research interests in novel PET imaging technologies in prostate cancer. Additionally, he is interested in manipulating the prostate cancer microenvironment to convert an immune exclusive microenvironment to an inflamed phenotype that will promote the utility of immunotherapy. He also does work in developing antibody drug conjugates for patients with bladder cancer.

He has research projects that span the spectrum of drug discovery and early phase testing all the way to leading large, international randomized Phase 3 clinical trials with promise to lead to new U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approvals. For example, he is working with new immune checkpoint inhibitors that target VISTA, agents that alter the immunosuppressive microenvironment by decreasing adenosine accumulation, novel adrenal androgen annihilators and androgen receptor degraders, and HER2 targeting in bladder cancer using antibody drug conjugates.

Dr. Yu is section head of Medical Oncology in the Clinical Research Division at Fred Hutch. He also serves as the medical director for Clinical Research for the Fred Hutch/University of Washington/Seattle Children’s Cancer Consortium. He is a principal investigator, or PI, for the National Cancer Trials Network Lead Academic Performance Site (LAPS) Grant, SWOG Cancer Research Network and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group/American College of Radiology Imaging Network. Dr. Yu is also the core director for the Pacific Northwest Prostate Cancer SPORE and co-PI of the DoD Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials Consortium for Fred Hutch. Previously, he served as director of the Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program for a decade at Fred Hutch.

Dr. Yu has served for many years on the National Cancer Institute Genitourinary Cancers Steering Committee and is currently the co-chair for the National Cancer Institute Prostate Cancer Task Force. He has held various leadership or committee roles within the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Association for Cancer Research and serves as a senior editor for Clinical Cancer Research and Uro-Today.

Area of Clinical Practice
Genitourinary malignancies, prostate, bladder and testicular cancer

“Scientific understanding and science-based treatments are important, but there’s so much more to treating cancer.”

— Dr. Yu

What do you uniquely bring to patients?

I plant myself directly on the line between the laboratory and the clinic and engage both sides to develop a personalized approach to a selection of novel therapies. Your medical care needs to be built on a foundation of science and education, but I also bring an added dimension to my job by understanding biologic mechanisms of drug sensitivity and resistance. It’s really about working with you as a whole person, not just your cancer. I also recognize the importance of your relationship with your circle of loved ones. Oncology gives doctors a rare opportunity to connect deeply with families — from the outset of treatment through the course of the disease, sometimes over several years. I value the chance to get to know you and your family and will work intensively with you over time.

How do you combine being a scientist and physician?

I always had a scientific bent and wanted to be a physician. The summer after my first year of med school, I worked with a urologist and met men being treated for prostate cancer. The patients, who were grappling with their diagnosis and considering their options, inspired me to specialize in oncology. I felt deep respect and compassion for those undergoing cancer treatment, but that really deepened once my father developed bladder cancer. Before my father’s illness, I was very much a molecular scientist. But having someone close to me get cancer made me think about the disease more holistically, rather than only as a ball of abnormal cells or a sample in a tissue culture dish. Now, I find myself dedicated to strengthening the links between clinical care and lab research so that the prognosis for patients only gets better and better. Today, I try to meld the clinical care and the biology. I’m passionate about searching for the next wave of cancer treatments — targeted agents with greater cancer specificity and fewer side effects for you.

Diseases Treated

Bladder Cancer

Testicular Cancer

Prostate Cancer

Dr. Yu has research interests in novel PET imaging technologies in prostate cancer. Additionally, he is interested in manipulating the prostate cancer microenvironment to convert an immune exclusive microenvironment to an inflamed phenotype that will promote the utility of immunotherapy. Finally, he is doing much work in developing antibody drug conjugates for patients with bladder cancer.

Dr. Yu has research projects that span the spectrum of drug discovery and early phase testing all the way to leading large, international randomized phase 3 trials with promise to lead to new FDA approvals. For example, he is working with new immune checkpoint inhibitors that target VISTA, agents that alter the immunosuppressive microenvironment by decreasing adenosine accumulation, novel adrenal androgen annihilators and androgen receptor degraders, and also HER2 targeting in bladder cancer using antibody drug conjugates.

Languages

Chinese (Mandarin)
English

Education and Experience

Fellowship, Hematology-Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Residency, Internal Medicine, Bringham and Women's Hospital

MD, University of Washington School of Medicine

BS, Zoology, University of Washington

Board Certification

Medical Oncology, 2003, 2013, American Board of Internal Medicine

Awards

Seattle Magazine's 2025 Top Doctors Award
Dr. Yu has received this peer-nominated award for exceptional patient care for multiple years.

U.S. News and World Report “Top Doctor” 2011–present

Castle Connolly America’s Top Doctors 2011–present

Clinical Trials

We make promising new treatments available to you through studies called clinical trials led by Fred Hutch physicians. 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. Yu

Publications

Many of our Fred Hutch physicians 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. Yu'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.

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