
Paul Tuan-Xuan Nghiem MD PhD (He/Him)
[Pronunciation: NEE-em]
George F. Odland Professor and Founding Chair, Department of Dermatology, University of Washington; Director, Skin Oncology at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
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Uwmcroosevelt4225 Roosevelt Way NESeattle, WA 98105
Phone+1 206-598-4067
Fax+1 206-606-1025
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Summary
- Dr. Paul Nghiem is a dermatologist based in Seattle, WA. He completed his medical education at Stanford University School of Medicine in 1994 and holds a Ph.D. in Cancer Biology from the same institution. He pursued residencies in Internal Medicine and Dermatology at Mass General Brigham hospitals. His areas of expertise include Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), melanoma, and cutaneous malignancies. Dr. Nghiem has contributed to the field through fundamental studies of the nature of the immune response in MCC, and leading clinical trials that established immune therapy as the standard of care for MCC. He also serves as the Principal Investigator for the MATRiX clinical trial, focusing on the combination of anticancer drugs for MCC that is refractory to approved treatments.
Education & Training
Mass General Brigham/Massachusetts General Hospital/Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Brigham and Women's HospResidency, Dermatology, 1995 - 1998
Mass General Brigham/Brigham and Women's HospitalResidency, Internal Medicine, 1994 - 1995
Stanford University School of MedicineClass of 1994
Stanford UniversityPh.D., Program in Cancer Biology, 1994
Harvard UniversityA.B., Biological Sciences, 1986
Certifications & Licensure
FL State Medical License 2021 - Present
CA State Medical License 2022 - 2026
WA State Medical License 2005 - 2026
MA State Medical License 1998 - 2006
American Board of Dermatology Dermatology
Clinical Trials
- Testing the Combination of Two Anticancer Drugs M1774 (Tuvusertib) and Avelumab to Evaluate Their Safety and Effectiveness in Treating Merkel Cell Skin Cancer, MATRiX Trial Start of enrollment: 2024 May 21
Roles: Contact, Principal Investigator
Publications & Presentations
PubMed
- CLINICAL BENEFIT OF ADDING RADIATION FOR IMMUNE CHECKPOINT INHIBITOR-REFRACTORY MERKEL CELL CARCINOMA: A 27-PATIENT ANALYSIS.Rian Alam, Ankita A Menon, Peter Y Ch'en, Austin J Jabbour, Theodore A Gooley
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 2026-02-03 - Circulating Neoantigen- and Viral Oncoprotein-Specific CD8+ T Cells Share a Transcriptional Signature.Saumya Jani, Tomas Bencomo, Carolyn Shasha, Thomas Pulliam, Ana Jojic
Cancer Immunology Research. 2026-01-08 - Real-world outcomes of talimogene laherparepvec as salvage therapy for advanced melanoma.Melissa M Yamada, Smitha Chandrasekhar, Ted A Gooley, Rita E Chen, Coley Doolittle-Amieva
Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer. 2025-12-25
Journal Articles
- (P33) Case Report: Neutron Radiation Therapy for Refractory Merkel Cell Carcinoma in an Immunotherapy Primed Patient Potentiates the Immune ResponseSchaub SK, Stewart RD, Sandison GA, Arbuckle T, Liao JJ, Laramore GE, Zeng J, Rengan R, Tseng YD, Mayr NA, Bhatia S, Nghiem P, Parvathaneni U, International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics, 1/1/2018
- Case Report: Neutron Radiation Therapy for Refractory Merkel Cell Carcinoma in an Immunotherapy Primed Patient Potentiates the Immune ResponseSchaub SK, Stewart RD, Sandison GA, Arbuckle T, Liao JJ, Laramore GE, Zeng J, Rengan R, Tseng YD, Mayr NA, Bhatia S, Nghiem P, Parvathaneni U, International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics, 1/1/2018
- Merkel Cell Carcinoma Cell Death in Response to Single-Fraction Irradiation: Implications for Immune TherapyMullen TD, Nghiem P, Bhatia S, Parvathaneni U, Schwartz JL, Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys, 1/1/2016
Books/Book Chapters
Abstracts/Posters
- Surgical removal of the parametrial fat pads stimulates apoptosis and inhibits UVB-induced carcinogenesis in mice fed a high-fat diet.Lu YP, Lou YR, Bernard JJ, Peng QY, Li T, Lin Y, Shih WJ, Nghiem P, Shapses S, Wagner GC, Conney AH, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1/1/2012
- Chemical methodology as a source of small-molecule checkpoint inhibitors and heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) modulators.Huryn D, Brodsky J, Brummond K, Chambers P, Eyre B, Ireland A, Kawasumi M, LaPorte M, Lloyd K, Manteau B, Nghiem P, Quade B, Wipf P, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 1/1/2011
- Protection from UV-induced skin carcinogenesis by genetic inhibition of the ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR) kinase.Kawasumi M, Lemos B, Bradner JE, Thibodeau R, Kim YS, Schmidt M, Higgins E, Koo SW, Angle-Zahn A, Chen A, Levine D, Nguyen L, Heffernan TP, Longo I, Mandinova A, Lu YP..., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 1/1/2011
Lectures
- Late-breaking Research: Basic Science/Cutaneous Oncology/PathologyAmerican Academy of Dermatology - Annual Meeting 2019 - Washington, D.C. - 3/2/2019
- Seattle Investigative Dermatology, MCC & the immunogenic principles transforming the care of all UV-induced skin cancers.Oregon Convention Center, Portland, OR - 1/29/2017
- MCC & the immunogenic principles transforming the care of all UV-induced skin cancers, Clinical scholars program session II: Emerging immunotherapiesOregon Convention Center, Portland, OR - 1/29/2017
Press Mentions
Tip Sheet: New Treatments for Graft-vs.-Host Disease, Updated Dosage for HPV Vaccines — and Fred Hutch Announces Awards for Graduate StudentsMarch 5th, 2025
UW Medicine, Fred Hutch Launch Skin Cancer InstituteFebruary 3rd, 2025
New Institute Musters Forces Against Lethal Skin CancerJanuary 30th, 2025
Grant Support
- The Replication Checkpoint And Genomic Fidelity In SkinNational Institute Of Arthritis And Musculoskeletal And Skin Diseases2005–2012
- Humoral And Cellular Immunity In Polyomavirus-Linked Merkel Cell CarcinomaNational Cancer Institute2011
- Pathogenetic And Prognostic Studies For Improved Therapy Of Merkel Cell CarcinomaNational Cancer Institute2009–2011
- Targeting Mcpyv To Overcome Immune Evasion In Merkel Cell CarcinomaNational Cancer Institute2009–2010
- The Replication Checkpoint And Genomic Fidelity In SkinNational Institute Of Arthritis And Musculoskeletal And Skin Diseases2005–2008
Professional Memberships
- Fellow
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