John A. Thompson, MD

What excites you about your job?

It was during my internal medicine residency that I first became interested in oncology. I was inspired by both the science of cancer and the relational side of this specialty — the connections you form with patients and families. At Fred Hutch, I’m able to have dual careers: I get to experience the thrill of discovering better approaches to treating melanoma and kidney cancer while also witnessing firsthand the significance of this progress. Our research creates hope and possibility; I’m thrilled when our work makes an impact on your treatment.  

How do you like to work with patients?

My goal is to establish a clear diagnosis, share with you the natural history of melanoma or kidney cancer as it affects you and develop a treatment plan that is based on good science and tailored to your needs. I know that learning  about your illness can be daunting. Sorting through all the available cancer information takes patience and time. One of my roles as an oncology specialist is to help you and your family sift through the data and find what’s useful to you. Patients often feel relieved when they can narrow down their information base and spend more time and energy taking care of themselves.  

Provider Background

Specialty: Medical Oncology

Area of clinical practice

Kidney cancer, skin cancers

Melanoma, kidney cancer

I am a board-certified medical oncologist who specializes in the treatment of kidney cancer and melanoma. At Fred Hutch, I serve as the co-director of the melanoma clinic and the medical director of the Phase 1 Clinical Trials Program. Researchers in this program collaborate with local biotech and pharmaceutical companies to develop novel therapies for patients with solid tumor cancers. Phase 1 clinical trials can be a good option when conventional cancer treatments have stopped working.  

My clinical research focuses on exploring novel therapies for kidney cancer and melanoma, including blood stem cell transplants and immunotherapy. I was part of the team at Fred Hutch that reported the first successful use of a patient’s own T cells (a type of infection-fighting immune cell) as the sole therapy for putting an advanced solid-tumor cancer into long-term remission without radiation or chemotherapy. In addition to caring for patients and leading research, I’m active on many boards and committees that represent patients with kidney cancer and melanoma.