Bone Marrow Transplant

UMass Memorial Health is the only stem cell transplant program in the region. We have been delivering expert care since 1994, performing more than 1,400 procedures. This level of experience gives you the best chance for an excellent outcome.

What Is a Bone Marrow Transplant?

A bone marrow transplant is a procedure that delivers healthy blood-producing cells (stem cells) to an area inside your bones. It stimulates your body’s ability to produce new blood cells. Treatment can prevent certain cancers from growing or coming back. You may also benefit from a stem cell transplant if you have certain noncancerous (benign) blood disorders.

Procedures we perform include:

• Autologous transplant: You receive a sample of your own stem cells after completing a course of high-dose chemotherapy.
• Allogenic transplant: This procedure uses stem cells from a donor whose blood proteins closely match yours. The donor may be a relative or someone unrelated.
• Cord blood transplant: Donor cells come from blood left in the umbilical cord after a baby’s birth. 

Conditions We Treat With Bone Marrow Transplants

Cancers and benign blood disorders we treat using bone marrow transplants include:

• Acute and chronic leukemias (AML, ALL, CML, CLL)
• Aplastic anemia
• Hodgkin lymphoma  
• Leukemia
• Multiple myeloma
• Multiple sclerosis
• Non-Hodgkin lymphoma  
• Sickle cell disease

Bone Marrow Transplant Services We Provide

UMass Memorial has all the specialists and services you need for a successful bone marrow transplant, including:

• Hematologist-oncologists and cellular therapy specialists: Experts in blood cancers and disorders guide your therapy. They work with other doctors, nurses and staff to help you have an excellent experience.
• Transfusion medicine doctors: These specialists prevent, manage and treat complications and can be available on short notice to participate in your care.
• Dedicated inpatient unit: Bone marrow transplants can weaken your immune system. We use a special air handling system to protect you against airborne infections.
• Attentive monitoring: You receive ongoing care from nurses specializing in bone marrow transplants and high-dose chemotherapy.
• Easy access to physicians: A bone marrow transplant specialist (hematologist-oncologist) is available 24/7 to coordinate any additional therapies you may need.
• Blood bank: UMass Memorial is home to an on-site blood bank that’s available 24/7. This offering enables us to respond quickly, should you need a blood transfusion.
• MIH (Mobile Integrated Health): Under certain circumstances, MIH medical staff can be dispatched to a patient’s home, providing urgent treatment for bone marrow transplant patients experiencing life-threatening infections.
• Hospital at Home: We can bring hospital-level care to eligible patients in their own homes. This may include treatments like antibiotics or blood transfusions. Our goal is to help patients leave the hospital sooner and recover comfortably at home.