CICT Summer 2026 Newsletter
Dear CICT Supporter,
As we move into the summer months, we are excited to share updates from the Center for Innovations in Cancer & Transplant. In this issue, you’ll find highlights from recent research activities, publications, fundraising efforts, and more details from our team.
Together, these accomplishments reflect the collaborative work of patients, caregivers, clinicians, researchers, and community partners dedicated to improving outcomes for individuals affected by cancer and transplantation.
Thank you for being part of the CICT community. Your support and engagement continue to advance our mission and make this work possible.
Updates from CICT Team
This August, our Research Coordinator, Felicia Che, will be heading to medical school at the Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine. Felicia began her journey with UW Transplant as an undergraduate student assistant in 2021, before joining the CICT team in Spring 2024. Felicia’s interest in transplant research and goal of becoming a physician are largely inspired by her grandmother’s kidney transplant journey and have continued to grow through the opportunity to learn from the many remarkable patients, physicians, and colleagues she has worked with over the last several years. While we are sad to see her go, we are excited as she takes the next steps of her professional journey to become a physician.
As we celebrate Felicia’s accomplishments, we also look forward to expanding the CICT team and welcoming new team members who will contribute to the CICT’s continued growth and impact.
Clinic and Bioregistry
The Cancer and Organ Transplant Clinic (COTC) coordinates multidisciplinary care for organ transplant candidates and recipients navigating challenging cancer and transplant conditions. Not only have over 85 new patients from across the country received care at the COTC, but COTC director, Dr. Chris Blosser, has also been involved in mentoring physicians across the country to establish similar models of care in their communities, including at the University of Wisconsin, Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, and University of Alberta.
Since its inception in March 2023, the CICT bioregistry continues to steadily grow. As of early June, 646 patients have been enrolled in the bioregistry, including transplant candidates and patients with and without a history of cancer. If you are a transplant candidate or recipient, regardless of a history of cancer or not, and interested in contributing to the bioregistry, please contact cict@uw.edu for more information.
Research Projects
Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorders (PTLD)
Children and adults who receive an organ transplant are at 12 times higher risk for lymphoma compared with the general population. While first-line treatment is effective in 80% of patients who develop Post Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorders (PTLD), those who don’t respond experience poor outcomes.
With Dr. Andrew Portuguese and other collaborators at the Fred Hutch, we are studying the PTLD tumor microenvironment (TME) with special microscopes to identify potential new therapeutic targets and signatures that may predict response to treatments. The team is currently performing data analysis for this project and has submitted an FDA R01 grant with goals to further study the natural history and TME of PTLD tumors in adult and pediatric populations to better guide PTLD care.
This January, the CICT hosted its 2nd webinar, Life Lessons: Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorders (PTLD). The session featured two patient speakers who have experienced PTLD, Doug Moreton (lung transplant recipient) and Fernando Cavazos (kidney transplant recipient x3) and investigator Dr. Andrew Portuguese.
Advanced Skin Cancers in Kidney Transplant Recipients
Skin cancer is the most common cancer after organ transplant, and over 50% of fair- skinned patients develop it during their lifetime. Life-long immunosuppression suppresses normal immune surveillance and response to cancer cells, so prevention is most important, including sunscreen (SPF30+), broad-rimmed hat, and long-sleeves. Yet, some patients still experience advanced skin cancers that require systemic therapy. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have revolutionized skin cancer treatment in the general population, yet safety and efficacy among the transplant population remain uncertain with risks of toxicity, transplant rejection, and graft failure.
In collaboration with Lisa Tachiki and Shailender Bhatia (Fred Hutch & UW Oncology), Dr. Blosser is investigating how the immune system works in the setting of immunosuppression to find new ways to prevent and treat skin cancers. The team is also leading a clinical trial of low-dose ICI in organ transplant recipients with advanced skin cancers to learn how to effectively use immunotherapies while preventing serious side effects in this higher risk situation. This June, CICT hosted its third educational webinar, Life Lessons: Skin Cancer After Organ Transplant, with speakers Gregory O’Farrell, a kidney transplant recipient navigating recurrent skin cancer, and Dr. Lisa Tachiki.
Related, Dr. Gaoyuan Huang, UW Transplant Nephrology Fellow, presented “Clinical Outcomes of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Use in Kidney Transplant Recipients with Advanced Cancers.” at the American Transplant Congress in Boston in June. Drs. Huang, Blosser and Fred Hutch collaborators reported the outcomes of patients treated with ICI over the twelve years at UW/FHCC. The findings contribute to the growing knowledge in the field and raised new questions to pursue.
Molecular Characterization of Cancers in KTRs
Solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) have a higher risk of developing cancer due to taking immunosuppressive medications long-term to prevent organ rejection. However, little is known about the biological features of these cancers. CICT collaborators, Drs. Shyfuddin Ahmed and Eric Engels (National Cancer Institute) have led an investigation with Dr. Blosser on the unique molecular and immune characteristics of cancers that develop in transplant recipients.
The team recently presented their findings at the annual American Society of Oncology (ASCO) conference in Chicago. Their research highlights important differences between transplant-associated cancers and those seen in the general population, providing a foundation for future studies of personalized cancer treatments, including immunotherapy, in carefully selected transplant recipients.
Pre-Transplant Cancer Waiting Time
As the population ages, more people with a history of cancer are being referred for organ transplantation. Determining when a patient can safely receive a transplant after a cancer diagnosis can be challenging, as providers must balance the risks of cancer recurrence with the benefits of transplantation. Current waiting time recommendations are largely based on expert recommendations. Led by Drs. Allyson Hart and Grace Lyden at Hennepin Healthcare, Dr. Blosser and team are using population-based and patient-level registries to better understand cancer risks and outcomes among patients receiving dialysis and after kidney transplantation.
The team recently presented this work at the annual meeting of the American Transplant Congress. Ultimately, this research will provide data to directly inform cancer-related waiting times before kidney transplant.
Recent Publications
We are excited to share multiple recent publications from the CICT team and our collaborators that highlight our ongoing efforts to advance knowledge by sharing clinical and research findings in multiple areas of cancer and transplantation.
Sips & Savor Fundraiser
This June, the CICT Community Engagement Committee, with the support of Fred Hutch Philanthropy, hosted an educational Sips & Savor fundraiser. The evening featured wine, light bites, and an update by Dr. Blosser on the CICT’s growth and future.
Thank you to all who attended and supported the event, helping us raise over $12,000 for CICT research. And a special thanks to our CEC Members, Tami Sadusky, Carla See, and Glenda Roberts, and Jackie Montstream (FHCC Philanthropy) for their hard work in planning a spectacular evening.
Fred Hutch Obliteride
Last year’s Obliteride was a great show of community and support for the CICT. We are excited to lead a team again in Obliteride 2026 – Team KickIt! – and hope you will join us!
This year, we’ve set the fundraising goal of $25,000 and have already raised over $13,300. With your help, we can reach this goal, knowing that all funds goal directly to CICT to advance the mission: To transform the lives of people living with cancer and organ transplants through integrated healthcare and research.
We invite you to join us - in person, virtually, or through a donation - in honor of someone living with cancer or transplant, or in memory of a loved one.
We can also accept donations of stock, personal checks, or donations from a foundation. Please contact the CICT team (cict@uw.edu) for more information on these ways to donate. You can make a tax-deductible donation here.
Thank You
As we reflect on the past five years since its founding, we are so proud of how the CICT has grown, not only in its research and clinical endeavors, but also in the strong community that has formed around our shared mission. We are deeply grateful to and inspired by our collaborators, Scientific Advisory Committee, Community Engagement Committee, patient partners, and supporters whose contributions make this work possible.
Thank you for being part of our community. We look forward to continuing this important work together in the days ahead.
With gratitude,
Chris Blosser & Felicia Che