On Apr. 7, 2014, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center announced that the Bezos family had committed $20 million to support the development of novel cancer immunotherapies–the largest single contribution in Fred Hutch’s history. This is not the first time the Bezos family, which is active in the Seattle philanthropic community as well as with programs around the country, has partnered with Fred Hutch to fuel lifesaving cancer research.

In 2009, the Bezos family made a catalytic $10 million challenge gift to support immunotherapy research at the Hutch. That challenge was met within a year by a large community of donors inspired by both the Bezos family’s philanthropic leadership and the promise of a new generation of cancer treatments that would be far safer and more effective for patients.

Once infused into the patient, these tumor-destroying cells — about 20 million of them — continue to multiply, serving as a living therapy. Because T-cell therapy can eliminate cancer cells without harming healthy ones, it causes fewer side effects than chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. Hutch researchers are also using specific combinations of T cells to produce more consistent, predictable and long-lasting results in patients. More than 45 patients have been enrolled in trials so far, and Fred Hutch researchers expect to enroll more than 100 additional patients in at least five trials over the coming year.