Leukemia
Leukemia is a disorder involving blood cells. Healthy cells form in the bone marrow and mature into red blood cells (to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the body’s tissues), white blood cells (to fight infections) and platelets (to stop bleeding).
In patients with leukemia, these cells do not mature as they should or they transform into irregular blood cells that do not function normally. As abnormal cells build up in the bone marrow and bloodstream, the patient may experience anemia, susceptibility to infections and bleeding that does not clot due to the lack of functional red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.
Leukemia occurs most often in adults older than 55, but it is also the most common cancer in children younger than 15.
City of Hope's team of experts can precisely diagnose leukemia, classify its subtype, identify its severity and find the best treatments for fighting the disease.
The innovative treatments we use to treat leukemia include drug therapy, radiation therapy and bone marrow and stem cell transplantation.
Our patients have access to leukemia clinical trials, including new chemotherapy, targeted and hormone therapies, surgical techniques, radiation approaches, and prevention strategies.
At City of Hope, leukemia clinicians and researchers collaborate extensively to develop and evaluate new therapies for better survival and quality-of-life outcomes.
When you come to City of Hope, you automatically gain access to an unparalleled array of support services to help you and your loved ones take each step during and after your leukemia treatment.
Our Leukemia Expertise
City of Hope has been named a best hospital for cancer by U.S. News & World Report for over a decade. As a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, our doctors also help develop and improve evidence-based leukemia treatment guidelines for patients throughout the country.
Program Highlights:
- A multidisciplinary team of specialists – including hematologists, medical and radiation oncologists, scientists, supportive care experts, and other professionals – who work together to provide coordinated, personalized care for you and your loved ones.
- The Gehr Family Center for Leukemia is home to a team of basic scientists whose laboratory research focuses on furthering our understanding of the causes of leukemia (leukemogenesis) and developing new disease-specific therapeutics.
- Comprehensive molecular profiling and risk assessment tests that can help identify treatments that will produce the best outcomes.
- A world-class bone marrow and stem cell transplant program with better than expected survival outcomes for over 10 years.
- Leading-edge clinical trials for leukemia that are unavailable elsewhere, including CAR T cell immunotherapy, mutation-specific drugs and novel stem cell transplant regimens.
- Total marrow irradiation can target radiation therapy to bone marrow while minimizing exposure to healthy tissues and organs.
- Specialized observation programs for slow-growing leukemia subtypes, allowing our doctors to deliver timely therapies when they are the most effective.
- A long-term follow-up program to minimize the risk of recurrence and improve the quality of life for leukemia survivors.
City of Hope is one of the few facilities designated a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute.
Our developments in the areas of breakthrough cancer drugs, bone marrow transplants and CAR T cell therapy are recognized internationally.
Our leadership in research and innovation continually enhances our ability to provide novel and differentiated approaches to cancer care.
Vaibhav Agrawal, M.D., M.B.A., is a hematologist-oncologist in the Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation at City of Hope.
Monzr M. Al Malki, M.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation and is board certified in internal medicine, hematology and medical oncology at City of Hope.
Ibrahim T. Aldoss, M.D., is a hematologist-oncologist and board certified in internal medicine, medical oncology and hematology. His clinical expertise is in acute lymphoblastic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia.
Haris Ali, M.D., is an hematologist-oncologist and associate professor in the department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation.
Idoroenyi Amanam, M.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation at City of Hope.
Ahmed Aribi, M.D., is a hematologist and assistant professor in the Division of Leukemia, Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation.
Shukaib Arslan, M.D., is a hematologist and oncologist at City of Hope.
Andrew Artz, M.D., M.S., is a professor at City of Hope’s Hematologic Malignancies Research Institute.
Brian Ball, M.D., is a hematologist-oncologist in the Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation at City of Hope.
Pamela Becker, M.D., Ph.D., is a highly respected clinician with expertise in acute myeloid leukemia, multiple myeloma, bone marrow failure & other diseases of the blood & immune system.
Amanda Blackmon, D.O., hematologic oncologist, is an assistant clinical professor in the division of Leukemia in the Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation.
Peter Curtin, M.D., is a professor in the Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation at City of Hope.
Stephen J. Forman, M.D., hematologist-oncologist, is a top cancer doctor for leukemia, lymphoma & bone marrow transplantation. He is also the director of the Hematologic Malignancies Research Institute & director of the T Cell Therapeutics Research Laboratory at City of Hope, Duarte, California.
Paul Koller, M.D., is a hematologist-oncologist in the Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation.
Ryotaro Nakamura, M.D., is the Jan & Mace Siegel Professor in Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation professor and a hematologist/oncologist at City of Hope.
Salman Otoukesh, M.D., hematologist-oncologist, is an assistant professor, division of leukemia, in the Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation.
Hoda Pourhassan, M.D., is a hematologist-oncologist in the Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation at City of Hope.
Vinod Pullarkat, M.D., is a hematologist/oncologist in the Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation.
Amandeep Salhotra, M.D., is a hematologist-oncologist and Associate Professor in the Division of Leukemia, Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation.
Karamjeet Sandhu, M.D., is a hematologist oncologist at City of Hope Cancer Center near Los Angeles, CA.
