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About the Adult Stem Cell Transplant Program

  • Stem cell/bone marrow transplant offers some patients with blood cancers and blood disorders the possibility of a cure, and others a longer period of disease-free survival. Founded in 1972, our Adult Stem Cell Transplant Program is one of the largest and most experienced in the world.

    Experience Matters

    Our stem cell/bone marrow transplant program performs approximately 500 transplants each year and has performed more than 11,180 transplants in the program’s history. This includes more than 5,500 allogeneic transplants and more than 5,100 autologous transplants. This experience makes a difference for our patients.

    Our patients' outcomes regularly exceed expected outcomes as established by the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research, which reports and analyzes outcomes for recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant. In the most recent report (2022), only 6% of centers achieved this outcome level. Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center was the largest center to achieve this outcome.

    Stem Cell/Bone Marrow Transplant for a Range of Blood Cancers and Disorders

    Stem cell/bone marrow transplant can be an effective treatment for a variety of hematologic malignancies, bone marrow failure syndromes, and rare and congenital blood disorders. We are experienced in stem cell transplant for a variety of hematologic malignancies, bone marrow failure syndromes, and rare and congenital blood disorders. This includes:

    Blood Cancers and Malignant Disorders
    • Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
    • Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
    • Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/SLL
    • Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)
    • Hodgkin lymphoma
    • Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
    • T-cell lymphoma
    • Mantle cell lymphoma
    • Follicular lymphoma
    • Multiple myeloma
    • Waldenström's macroglobulinemia
    • Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN)
    • Testicular or germ cell cancer
    • And others
    Myeloproliferative Disorders and Myelodysplastic Syndromes
    • Myelofibrosis
    • Myeloproliferative disorders (MPD)
    • Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS)
    • Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML)
    • And others
    Non-Malignancy and Congenital Blood Disorders
    • Aplastic anemia
    • Diamond-Blackfan anemia
    • Dyskeratosis congenita
    • MonoMAC Syndrome
    • Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH)
    • Shwachman-Diamond syndrome
    • Sickle cell anemia
    • Thalassemia
    • Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH)
    • Immunodeficiency syndromes
    • And others

    Expertise in All Types of Stem Cell/Bone Marrow Transplant

    We perform both autologous and allogeneic stem cell/bone marrow transplants.

    For allogeneic patients (i.e., those requiring donor stem cells), we offer:

    • Related donor transplant
    • Haploidentical ("half-match") transplant with a biological parent, child, or sibling
    • Unrelated donor transplant — our unrelated donor program is the largest in the world
    • Umbilical cord blood transplant
    • Reduced-intensity ("mini" or "RIC") transplant
    • Outpatient transplant for some patients

    Stem Cell/Bone Marrow Transplant for Older Adults

    Reduced-intensity transplants use lower doses of chemotherapy and have been a major factor in extending stem cell/bone marrow transplants for older adults up into their 70s. Our program has transplanted more than 5,000 patients over 55 years old. Our Older Adult Hematologic Malignancies Program provides dedicated support for older patients.

    International Patients

    From exceptional medical care to support with housing and other logistics, we offer many services to international patients:

    • Remote consults and online second opinions to evaluate a diagnosis or recommended treatment plans/options
    • Patient navigators who accompany patients to appointments
    • Interpreter services
    • Extensive patient education materials in print, online, and video formats, many of which are translated for non-English speaking patients and caregivers

    Learn more about international referrals and services.

    Program Accreditations, Registrations and Licenses

    • Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT)
    • U.S. Food and Drug Administration
    • American Association of Blood Banks (AABB)
    • Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
    • The Joint Commission
    • Fully accredited with the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP)

    Clinical and Research Affiliations

    • Member of the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR)
    • Charter member of the Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network of the National Institutes of Health (BMT-CTN)
    • Member of the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology (formerly CALGB)
    • Founding member of Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, designated a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute
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