Peter Nelson, MD
Vice President, Precision Oncology
Fred Hutch
Director
Stuart and Molly Sloan Precision Oncology Institute, Fred Hutch
Professor
Human Biology Division, Fred Hutch
Stuart and Molly Sloan Precision Oncology Institute Endowed Chair
Fred Hutch
Dr. Pete Nelson studies prostate cancer. Among men, prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer and the second leading cause of death from cancer. Though many cases are curable, treatment can have negative side effects, and researchers have yet to develop a cure for advanced, hormone-deprivation-resistant prostate cancer. Dr. Nelson works to understand what triggers the disease and how it develops, as well as to improve therapies and discover new treatment targets. His research covers everything from inherited mutations that increase the risk of developing advanced prostate cancer to the link between aging and prostate cancer. He also works to identify genetic alterations in prostate tumors that can help oncologists tailor treatment for individual patients.
Other Appointments & Affiliations
Professor, Clinical Research Division, Fred HutchProfessor
Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutch
Professor
Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutch
Professor, Medical Oncology
University of Washington School of Medicine
Genitourinary Oncology Clinical Research Director
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Adjunct Professor, Genome Sciences and Pathology
University of Washington
Principal Investigator
Pacific Northwest Prostate Cancer SPORE
Education
MD, University of Kansas, 1986
BA, Chemistry/Biology/Biochemistry, University of Kansas, 1982
Research Interests
Dr. Peter Nelson's lab focuses on understanding the molecular, cellular and physiological events that lead to cancer initiation and progression. Dr. Nelson's work studies the genomic features of prostate cancer tumors with the goal of developing diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic strategies. Specifically, his research explores gene expression variability, the role of the androgen receptor pathway and the tumor microenvironment and their role in the response and resistance mechanisms to prostate cancer therapies.
Current Projects
Exploiting cancer genomics and the tumor microenvironment to guide oncology treatment
"From just about every angle, prostate cancer is a fascinating disease to study. It also has major societal implications because it's so common."
— Dr. Peter Nelson