About the Stem Cell Transplantation Program
Located in Boston, Massachusetts, the Stem Cell Transplantation program at Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center is one of the largest and most experienced stem cell transplant programs in the world. We have performed more than 6,500 transplants for the treatment of blood cancers and related disorders since our program began in 1972. Our center-specific outcomes have been recognized as among the best in the United States.
The doctors, researchers, and patient care staff in our treatment team are highly regarded in the field of hematopoietic stem cell transplant procedures. They will collaborate with our hematologic malignancies care teams and your referring physician to create the most effective treatment strategies.
An experienced team of dedicated stem cell transplant specialists will follow you through the continuum of transplant services in both the inpatient and outpatient settings.
Our stem cell transplant services include:
- Autologous transplant, using your own stem cells;
- Allogeneic transplant, using stem cells from a family member, unrelated matching donor, or umbilical cord blood;
- Comprehensive services for related and unrelated donors;
- Access to our extensive offering of specialized stem cell transplant clinical trials;
- Transplantation for adults over age 60.
What is a stem cell transplant?
Stem cell transplantation refers to a procedure where healthy stem cells are transplanted from one individual to another, or using an individual's own stem cells. Sources of stem cells include bone marrow, peripheral blood or umbilical cord blood. You may hear the procedure referred to as a bone marrow transplant (BMT) or peripheral blood stem cell transplant (PBSCT) or umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT), depending on the source of the cells that are transplanted.
Hematopoietic stem cells can grow into any of the cells found within the bloodstream. They make blood cells and the components that your immune system needs to function. During a transplant, your body is infused with healthy stem cells which then grow and produce all of the different parts of the blood that both your body and your immune system need.
You may need a stem cell transplant when:
- Your body cannot make the blood cells it needs because your bone marrow or stem cells have failed.
- Your bone marrow or blood cells have become diseased and need to be replaced.
- You have a disease that is treated with high doses of chemotherapy and/or radiation treatment, which destroys both cancerous and stem cells at the same time.
When you undergo a stem cell transplant, doctors replace your stem cells with healthy new stem cells from a volunteer stem cell donor. Here’s a brief overview of what happens:
- You will receive chemotherapy and/or radiation to kill the diseased cells. This treatment, known as conditioning, will damage and possibly destroy your bone marrow/blood stem cells.
- You will receive new, healthy stem cells (in a process called an infusion, which is similar to a blood transfusion) to replace the destroyed cells. Unlike other forms of organ transplant (e.g. heart, kidney, etc.) surgery is not required for a stem cell transplant.
- The transplanted cells will begin to grow and produce healthy red and white blood cells and platelets.
- The process of growing new blood cells generally takes between two and four weeks; during this time you may be hospitalized so that doctors can monitor your progress.
In some cases, your own stem cells may be suitable for the procedure; this is called an autologous transplant. If you need stem cells from a donor (an allogeneic transplant) we will help coordinate that process through our comprehensive donor services program. Your physician will decide what type of transplant should be used for your treatment and the source of the transplanted stem cells.
Accreditation and credentials
- Charter member of the Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network (BMT CTN) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- Member of the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR)
- Member of the Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB)
- Fully accredited with the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP)
- Accredited by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT)
Our Approach to Stem Cell Transplant
The Stem Cell Transplantation program at Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center in Boston, Massachusetts combines the clinical expertise, focus, and innovation of one of the nation's leading cancer centers with the world-class care and services of one of the nation's leading hospitals. This collaboration enables us to provide superior care and support to our patients and their families.
Our services include:
- Autologous transplant, using your own stem cells;
- Allogeneic transplant, using stem cells from a family member, unrelated matching donor, or umbilical cord blood;
- Comprehensive services for related and unrelated donors;
- Access to our extensive offering of specialized clinical trials;
- Transplantation for adults over age 60.
Your treatment team will work closely together to provide the highest standard of patient care. As a patient, you and your family will play an active role in decisions about your treatment plan.
Our team of stem cell transplant specialists are dedicated to excellent and compassionate care. Throughout your treatment, you and your family will have access to support services and education programs, patient and family resource centers, financial counseling, and short- and long-term housing. A variety of services and complementary programs support your care, including:
- Pharmacy services
- Comprehensive donor services, including recruitment, registration, education, search and selection
- Care coordination
- Nutrition services
- Emotional support and counseling services
- Integrated therapies, such as massage and Reiki
- Pain management
- Long-term survivorship support through the Lance Armstrong Foundation Adult Survivorship Program.
Our Stem Cell Transplant Team
Our providers work together across a range of specialty areas to coordinate fully integrated, personalized care. A dedicated team of clinicians that specializes in your type of blood cancer works with you throughout your treatment, from diagnosis through long-term follow-up and specialized survivorship support.
Patients receive world-class care from a team of specialists, including medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, hematopathologists, infectious disease specialists, hematologists, physician assistants, nurses, oral surgeons, pharmacists, nutritionists, physical therapists, search coordinators, care coordinators, financial counselors, and clinical social workers.
Your entire care team has extensive experience in stem cell transplantation. Our specialists work closely together and collaborate regularly to ensure that your care plan offers the best possible outcomes and that all your needs are met.
Stem Cell Transplantation Leadership
Joseph Antin, MD, Chief, Stem Cell Transplant Program
617-632-2525
Robert J. Soiffer, MD, Co-Chief, Stem Cell Transplant Program
Hematologic Oncology Treatment Center Chief
617-632-3667
Edwin Alyea, MD, Associate Director
617-632-3903
Amy Emmert Administrative Director
617-632-3876
Stem Cell Transplant Physicians
Edwin Alyea, MD
Kenneth Anderson, MD
Joseph H. Antin, MD
Philippe Armand, MD, PhD
James Bradner, MD
Jennifer R. Brown, MD, PhD
Corey Cutler, MD, MPH, FRCPC
David C. Fisher, MD
Arnold S. Freedman, MD
Vincent Ho, MD
Eric Jacobsen, MD
John Koreth, MBBS, D Phil
Ann LaCasce, MD
Jacob Laubach, MD
Nikhil Munshi, MD
Paul Richardson, MD
Jerome Ritz, MD
Robert Sackstein, MD, PhD
Robert L. Schlossman, MD
Margaret Shipp, MD
Robert J. Soiffer, MD
Catherine Wu, MD
Stem Cell Research Scientists
Glenn Dranoff, MD
Jerome Ritz, MD
Catherine Wu, MD
Stem Cell Transplant Nurses
Patricia Byrne, RN
Toni Dubeau, RN
Irene Heffernan, RN, BSN, OCN
Kathleen Finn, RN
Kathleen McDermott, RN
Heidi DiPietro, RN
Kristen Cummings, RN
Stem Cell Transplant Nurse Practitioners
Melissa Cochran, MS, FNP
Amy Joyce, MSN, NP, AOCN
Bonnie Dirr, NP
Katherine Stephans, RN, MS, CS, OCN
Stem Cell Transplant Research Nurses
Muriel Gannon, RN
Mildred Pasek, RN, OCN, MM
Sue Stephenson, RN, OCN
Stem Cell Transplant Physician Assistants
BMT B
Colleen Brown, MS, PA-C
Sara Close, MS, PA-C
Shauna Curran, MS, PA-C
Heidi Niell, MS, PA-C
Deborah Yolin Raley, MS, PA-C
Alexis Landry, MS, PA-C
Kerri Rall, MS, PA-C
BMT/HM-PA
Kendra Church, MS, PA-C
Heather Hylton, MS, PA-C
Janice MacGillivray, MMSc, PA-C
Jennifer Starr, MS, PA-C
Olivia Weale, PA
Irum Ziauddin, MMSc, PA-C
Stem Cell Transplant Clinical Coordinators
Catherine Andrade
Gail Delaney
Pamela Kostaras, Operations Manager
Blossom Marshall
Jennifer Millett
Stem Cell Donor Services
Cindy Albert, Manager, Stem Cell Donor Services
Kimberly Allen, Stem Cell Transplant Search Coordinator
Jane Antin, Stem Cell Transplant Search Coordinator
Greg Bourdeau, Stem Cell Transplant Search Lead Coordinator
Peg Coles, Donor Collection Coordinator
Leigh Catalogna, Donor Services Recruiter
Lisa Koed, Donor Center Coordinator
Patricia Kovalski, Donor Center Coordinator
Peggy Powers, Donor Collection Coordinator
Stacey Rieu, Donor Collection Coordinator
Todne Texeira, Stem Cell Transplant Search Coordinator
Care Coordination
Social Work
Mary Lou Hackett, MSW, LICSW
Larisa Patacchiola, MSW, LICSW, OSW-C
Karen Skversky, MSW, LICSW
Amanda Weber, MSW, LCSW
Tammy Weitzman, MSW, LICSW
Ambulatory Pharmacy Resource Specialist
Darlene Holland, BSW, LSW
Ambulatory RN Care Coordination
Cinda Gaumer, RN, BSN
Inpatient RN Care Coordination
John Abbatematteo, RN
Eileen Almeida, RN
Alice Morrison, RN
Terri O’Sullivan, RN
Ambulatory Resource Office
Miriam Fagan
Inpatient Resource Office
Mary O’Neill-Kerrigan
Financial Counselors
Jorge Calderon
Kylie Fashaw
Raquel Gajonera
Lisa Quashie
Denyzes Williams
Stem Cell Transplant Research
We are committed to increasing access to stem cell transplant procedures, making it safer and more effective for patients, reducing transplant-related complications and improving immune system recovery.
Our stem cell transplant clinical trials are nationally recognized for major advances in cancer treatment as a result of our research, including:
- Developing new drugs to prevent or help manage graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD): a common and potentially severe side effect of stem cell transplants in which donor immune cells attack healthy patient cells and tissues.
- Using cord blood transplant to increase treatment options for patients without other suitable matched donors
- Developing cancer vaccine strategies for use along with transplant to stimulate the graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect and minimize disease relapse. Graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect: a therapeutic effect in which transplanted immune cells attack residual leukemia or other tumor cells.
We're also home to the Connell and O'Reilly Families Cell Manipulation Core Facility, which is New England's only state-of-the-art cell manipulation facility. This facility processes hematopoietic stem cells for transplant, generate modified tumor cells as therapeutic vaccines, and prepare immune cell populations for adoptive therapy.
Learn about current stem cell transplant clinical trials at Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center