Our Mission
The Nghiem Lab strives to improve cancer patient care by leading Merkel cell carcinoma research and fostering the next generation of compassionate health care and scientific leaders. This vision is driven by our collective core values: Honesty, Balance, Compassion, Impact, Humility, Enthusiasm, Joy, and Curiosity
The Nghiem Lab
Paul Nghiem, MD, PhD, leads research at the UW Medicine South Lake Union (SLU) campus, and provides patient care at the Fred Hutch Cancer Center (formerly the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance).
The Nghiem Lab is a collaborative research environment where research scientists, graduate students, medical fellows, post-doctoral researchers, and partner laboratories come together to learn more about Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). Research efforts put forth by the lab aim to better understand and optimize the treatment of MCC.
Dr. Nghiem sees patients on Tuesdays at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. He helps coordinate the care of patients with a multi-disciplinary team comprised of radiation oncologists, surgeons, and radiologists. This highly collaborative team works together to determine an optimal treatment plan that is individualized to meet the unique needs of each patient.
Merkel Cell Carcinoma
Research
The Nghiem Lab is actively involved in several ongoing research projects.
Merkel cell carcinoma is usually caused in part by an extremely common (typically harmless) virus that was discovered in 2008, the Merkel cell polyomavirus. Another very important cause is extensive exposure to sunlight, possibly many years earlier, and this cancer typically presents in Caucasians with a relatively light skin tone. About 80% of MCC cases are caused by the virus, with the remaining 20% being caused by very extensive damage by the sun in the United States. People who have significant, prolonged suppression of their immune system are at high risk of MCC, but over 90% of MCC patients have no known problem with their immune system.
We have created a website that focuses specifically on Merkel cell carcinoma. For more information about the disease please visit: www.merkelcell.org
UV-Induced DNA Damage
One hour of sunlight (UV) exposure generates ~100,000 DNA lesions per cell, which are mutagenic. In response to UV, cells activate multiple biological processes (primarily via the ATR kinase) to cope with these deleterious lesions. However, chronic UV exposure leads to development of skin cancers, the most prevalent cancers in humans (annual incidence is 3.5 million in the US that exceeds all other cancers combined).