Lee D. Cranmer, MD, PhD, FACP
Located at
Several of the mentors and role models in my early life were physicians, and I always knew I wanted to work in a field where my efforts would directly improve the world. While I was a medical resident at the Mayo Clinic, I worked in the cancer ward and quickly realized there were unmet needs for people with cancer, which made me want to continue working with them to see how I could help. I believe that immunotherapy will provide a means to treat the disease more effectively and even prevent it in some cases. I expect to make this the focus of the rest of my career.
I believe in a team-based approach to cancer care, with you at the center of the team. You are also a vital partner in our scientific work, as well as the direct beneficiary of our past and current laboratory research and clinical trials. Although most discoveries lead to only incremental improvements, I’ve been honored to participate in research that has been groundbreaking in its impact on the people we care for.
Provider background
Specialty: Medical Oncology
Sarcomas
As the director of Sarcoma Medical Oncology, my expertise is in the clinical management of sarcomas, a rare kind of cancer that grows in connective tissue — cells that connect or support other kinds of tissue in your body. I am focused on supporting and expanding sarcoma research collaborations at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and UW Medicine, including the development of local clinical trials, involvement in national clinical trials, the teaching and mentoring of hematology-oncology fellows and community-outreach activities.
I treat patients with melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. I’ve been directly involved in the design or execution of over 70 institutional, industry and national cooperative group-sponsored therapeutic clinical trials for melanoma and sarcoma patients, in addition to phase 1 solid tumor protocols. These have included trials of molecularly targeted therapies and immune-boosting therapies, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Diseases treated
Stories
A two-day conference on the treatment of sarcoma presented by Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Fred Hutch and University of Washington School of Medicine.
Research
Clinical trials
We make promising new treatments available to you through studies called clinical trials led by Fred Hutch doctors. Many of these trials at Fred Hutch have led to FDA-approved treatments and have improved standards of care globally. Together, you and your doctor can decide if a study is right for you.
Publications
Many of our Fred Hutch doctors conduct ongoing research to improve standards of patient care. Their work is evaluated by other doctors and selected for publication to the United States National Library of Medicine, the largest medical library in the world. See scientific papers this Fred Hutch provider has written.
Your care team
Insurance
Fred Hutch accepts most national private health insurance plans as well as Medicare. We also accept Medicaid for people from Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho. We are working to ensure that everyone, no matter what their financial situation, has access to the care they need.
