Newswise — SEATTLE — Dec. 6, 2022 — Below are summaries of recent Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center research findings and other news.
If you’re covering the 64th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition (ASH), see our media tip sheet to learn about what our researchers will present on COVID-19 and cancer, CD19 CAR T-cell therapy and precision oncology, and follow Fred Hutch on Twitter at #ASH22.
COVID-19 and clinical trials
Fred Hutch leads large-scale review of COVID-19 clinical trials that highlights multiple disparities Women were underrepresented in COVID-19 treatment clinical trials, and some racial and ethnic groups were underrepresented in COVID-19 prevention trials, according to a new meta-analysis conducted by Fred Hutch in collaboration with researchers from Beijing and London. The study, published Dec. 5 in JAMA Internal Medicine, identified system-wide differences in representation among several key demographic groups in COVID-19 prevention and treatment trials in the U.S.
Cancer research
How bacteria give cancer a helping hand Two new studies from investigators at Fred Hutch reveal how bacteria infiltrate tumors and how they could be helping tumors progress and spread. The team also showed that the different microbial players in a tumor’s microbiota (the full collection of microbes it carries) could influence how a cancer responds to treatment. The two papers, one published in Cell Reports and the other published in Nature, focus on an oral bacterium called Fusobacterium nucleatum, which has been linked to colorectal cancer.
Infectious disease
On World AIDS Day, a broad view of continuing work Since the discovery of the disease in 1981, HIV has claimed an estimated 40.1 million lives worldwide according to the United Nations' program, UNAIDS. Between 1.1 and 2 million new infections occur each year. From the earliest days of HIV/AIDS, Fred Hutch virologists, immunologists and epidemiologists have played leading roles in the efforts to understand the virus, test treatments for it and find ways to prevent it. Get an update on their work in this feature story tied to World AIDS Day, on Dec. 1.
Awards and other news
Fred Hutch/UW/Seattle Children’s Cancer Consortium breast cancer researchers receive grants Six researchers within the Fred Hutch/University of Washington/Seattle Children’s Cancer Consortium have received grants from the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, or BCRF. The proposed projects will further clarify the benefits of exercise for breast cancer survivors, validate a new imaging tracer to help expand the use of PARP inhibitors and test the effectiveness of an anti-inflammatory vaccine to prevent breast cancer in obese women and more.
Susan Parkhurst named Mark Groudine Endowed Chair for Outstanding Achievements in Science and Service Fred Hutch cell biologist Dr. Susan Parkhurst was named the second Mark Groudine Endowed Chair for Outstanding Achievements in Science and Service. Parkhurst studies the cytoskeleton, the internal meshwork that helps regulate cell shape and function. Established by an anonymous donor in 2016, the chair recognizes the scientific achievements and administrative contributions to Fred Hutch of both Parkhurst and Dr. Mark Groudine.
Science spotlight Science Spotlight is a monthly installment of articles written by postdoctoral fellows at Fred Hutch that summarize new research papers from Hutch scientists.
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Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center unites comprehensive care and advanced research to provide the latest cancer treatment options and accelerate discoveries that prevent, treat and defeat 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, HIV/AIDS prevention, immunotherapy and COVID-19 vaccines. Fred Hutch operates eight clinical care sites that provide medical oncology, infusion, radiation, proton therapy and related services and has network affiliations with hospitals in four states. Fred Hutch also serves as UW Medicine’s cancer program.
Please note that our organization was renamed Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in April 2022, following the merger of long-time partners, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.
Journal Link: JAMA Internal Medicine Journal Link: Cell Reports
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