Share Research Highlights

Every year, researchers in the Hutchinson Center's various divisions and programs report a host of breakthroughs related to our core mission: eliminating cancer, HIV/AIDS and related diseases as causes of human suffering and death.

Esophageal cancer risk may be reduced through a variety of lifestyle factors – from taking aspirin to losing belly fat
An estimated 20 million Americans have chronic heartburn. About 2 million of these people have Barrett’s esophagus, a precancerous condition that affects the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach.

Cancer in young adults is focus of new nationwide study to be led by Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Survivorship Program
The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Survivorship Program and its directors, K. Scott Baker, M.D. and Karen Syrjala, Ph.D., have been selected to lead a nationwide study that aims to improve long-term health outcomes for cancer survivors between the ages of 18 and 39.

‘Where you’re treated matters’ in terms of cancer survival
A study of older patients with advanced head and neck cancers has found that where they were treated significantly influenced their survival.

Twice given, twice used: Infusion of stem cells and specially generated T-cells from same donor improves leukemia survival
In a significant advance for harnessing the immune system to treat leukemias, researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center for the first time have successfully infused large numbers of donor T-cells specific for a key anti-leukemic antigen to prolong survival in high-risk and relapsed leukemia patients after stem cell transplantation.

Researchers identify variations in four genes that are associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer
An international research team co-led by cancer prevention researcher Ulrike “Riki” Peters, Ph.D., M.P.H., and biostatistician Li Hsu, Ph.D., at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center has identified variations in four genes that are linked to an increased risk of colorectal cancer.

High-dose Vorinostat effective at treating relapsed lymphomas
Patients whose aggressive lymphomas have relapsed or failed to respond to the current front-line chemotherapy regimen now have an effective second line of attack against their disease.

Study finds eating deep-fried food is associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer
Regular consumption of deep-fried foods such as French fries, fried chicken and doughnuts is associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer, and the effect appears to be slightly stronger with regard to more aggressive forms of the disease, according to a study by investigators at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

HIV-like viruses in non-human primates have existed much longer than perviously thought
Viruses similar to those that cause AIDS in humans were present in non-human primates in Africa at least 5 million years ago and perhaps up to 12 million years ago, according to study published Jan. 24 in PLoS Pathogens by scientists at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.