Fred Hutch scientists have a new theory of cancer. They argue that we should trace cancer's origins to DNA packaging and gene transcription, rather than DNA mutations. This could upend our understanding of cancer and also have big implications for improving chemotherapy.

Dr. Cassandra Simonich talks with John Higgins in the lab about respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, the leading cause of infant hospitalization in the United States. She discusses a study recently published in Nature that she co-authored with Dr. Jesse Bloom, an evolutionary biologist at Fred Hutch Cancer Center. The study confirms that current prevention therapies are safe and effective. Their innovative methods enable real-time surveillance of how RSV is evolving and provides a roadmap to weak links in RSV and potentially in other viruses that researchers can use to make better therapies.

Key Takeaways

• Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is the leading cause of infant hospitalization in the U.S.
• Though RSV is seldom fatal in the U.S. and other countries with advanced health care systems, it's a leading cause of infant mortality globally.
• Fred Hutch study of RSV confirms that resistance to current infant anti-RSV therapies has arisen sporadically in the evolution of the virus but remains rare, and those therapies remain effective and recommended.
• Fred Hutch has developed a better way to provide real-time surveillance of RSV evolution and exposed weak links that RSV and potentially other viruses could exploit, providing researchers a roadmap for designing even more effective therapies.

Dr. Tom Purcell, chief medical officer at Fred Hutch Cancer Center, discusses what the future of cancer care may hold in terms of monitoring recurrence and promoting health, as well as how Fred Hutch's streamlined cancer survivorship models help support patients.

Key takeaways:

• Fred Hutch is revamping its cancer survivorship model by embedding specialized survivorship groups directly within each disease division.

• Dedicated providers oversee the long-term care of patients who are no longer in active cancer treatment.

• The survivorship program focuses on improving overall quality of life by addressing the myriad personal and medical aspects of life after a cancer diagnosis

• Dr. Purcell wraps up a six-part podcast series on cancer survivorship. See fredhutch.org/news for other episodes