Cancer

Research overview

We have all confronted cancer, either personally or through a loved one. Cancer is complex, so Kaiser Permanente Washington researchers work to improve cancer control on many levels: prevention, early detection, effective treatment, and long-term survival.

“Kaiser Permanente Washington cancer research began decades ago, working to make breast cancer screening safe, effective, and personalized,” said Diana Buist, PhD, MPH, Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute (KPWHRI) senior investigator. “Today we’re continuing that work and studying other types of cancer and other aspects of prevention and treatment. Our goal remains gathering sound evidence and using it to improve patient care.”

Kaiser Permanente Washington cancer research covers breast, colorectal, blood, cervical, lung, pancreatic, and other cancers. Projects include:

• Strengthening prevention through evidence about risk factors and ways to reduce risk;
• Studying outreach to increase evidence-based screening;
• Matching the best screening tests for a cancer with the people at risk for that cancer;
• Increasing cancer detection by identifying and assisting people who need screening;
• Improving treatment by identifying effective therapies and increasing the continuity of care; and
• Encouraging thoughtful communication between patients and providers about cancer, palliative care, and end-of-life options.

KPWHRI investigators join forces with other researchers in multisite projects supported by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), and other organizations. This increases the power of Kaiser Permanente Washington studies and ensures results that many communities can use. KPWHRI researchers are leaders in several collaborative networks and programs:

• The Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium (BCSC) Data Resource supports research on breast cancer screening. The BCSC is a network of seven mammography registries, including the Kaiser Permanente Washington Breast Cancer Surveillance Registry, which Dr. Buist leads. The BCSC Data Resource Statistical Coordinating Center is at KPWHRI. The BCSC has the country’s largest longitudinal collection of breast imaging data: 10 million mammograms from more than 2 million women.
• The Risk-Based Breast Cancer Screening in Community Settings program builds on the BCSC. Its goal is to provide information to policymakers and health systems on effective breast cancer screening. The program identifies strategies that detect cancer early, minimize harms, and reach diverse communities. Senior Investigator Diana Miglioretti, PhD, is the principal investigator.
• The Cancer Research Network (CRN) is a cooperative agreement of nine community-based health care systems that participate in the Health Care Systems Research Network (HCSRN). CRN researchers study cancer prevention, early detection, treatment, and long-term care and monitoring. The CRN includes training for junior investigators. For the CRN, Kaiser Permanente Washington researchers helped to develop the ground-breaking Virtual Data Warehouse system—a standard for managing health data for research. The principal investigator of the KPWHRI CRN site is Associate Investigator Jessica Chubak, PhD.
• The Population-based Research Optimizing Screening through Personalized Regimens (PROSPR) program supports research that improves cancer screening for breast, colon, and cervical cancer. Associate Investigator Jessica Chubak, PhD, is the principal investigator of the KPWHRI PROSPR Research Center on colorectal cancer and Dr. Chubak and Research Associate Aruna Kamineni, PhD are co-principal investigators for a PROSPR cervical cancer site. Results from PROSPR will inform personalized screening recommendations.
• The Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Modeling Network (CISNET) develops statistical models to study how prevention, screening, and treatment reduce breast, colorectal, esophagus, lung, and prostate cancer in populations. KPWHRI researchers are working in the CISNET on issues of colorectal cancer and breast cancer. 
• The Centers of Excellence in Cancer Communications Research is an NCI initiative that funds CRN projects that improve communication about cancer and coordinating cancer care.

“The common goal is cancer care improvements that are evidence-based, accessible, and effective,” said Beverly B. Green, MD, MPH, associate investigator. Dr. Green studies ways to increase effective colorectal cancer screening, including advocacy for and outreach to underserved communities.

Affiliate researchers

Wylie Burke, MD, PhD
University of Washington (UW) Department of Medical History and Ethics

Joann G. Elmore, MD, MPH
Harborview Medical Center; UW Department of Epidemiology

Larry Kessler, ScD
UW Department of Health Services

Constance D. Lehman, MD, PhD
Seattle Cancer Care Alliance; UW Department of Radiology

Kathy Leppig, MD
Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington; UW Department of Pathology

Peggy L. Porter, MD
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCRC); UW Department of Pathology

Emily White, PhD
FHCRC; UW Department of Epidemiology

Rachel Winer, PhD, MPH
Fred Hutchinson/UW Cancer Consortium; UW Department of Epidemiology

featured video

Making Medicine Better by Working Together

 

(YouTube, 5:33)