National Leader in Stem Cell Transplantation, Here in Northern Illinois
Stem cell transplants are a treatment option for blood cancer, as well as some other related conditions. A potentially lifesaving option, stem cell transplants are considered the best treatment option for approximately 18,000 blood cancer patients each year.
City of Hope® Cancer Center, located in Lake County, Illinois, midway between Milwaukee and Chicago, is part of one of the nation’s largest and most successful bone marrow and stem cell transplant programs, having performed more than 20,000 procedures to date. Powered by our world-renowned, National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in Southern California, our national program has exceeded patient outcome expectations for 15 consecutive years.
Our longstanding program at our Chicago-area cancer center offers the full spectrum of stem cell transplantations, and has been serving patients in Illinois, Wisconsin and nearby Midwestern states for more than three decades. Focused on a sense of urgency, our stem cell transplant team is available for initial consultations within days of you contacting City of Hope, because we know when you have blood cancer, now matters.
Leading-Edge Stem Cell Transplant Services in the Chicagoland Area
Our team has years of expertise in performing hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HCST), which uses state-of-the-art technologies to replace unhealthy blood cells with stem cells from the patient’s own body or that of a donor. These stem cells then grow and divide normally, replacing cancerous cells with new, healthy blood cells. We offer two types of HCST:
- Autologous stem cell transplants, which collect stem cells from the patient’s own body
- Allogeneic stem cell transplants, which collect stem cells from a matching adult donor
City of Hope does not use embryonic stem cells or cells from aborted fetuses.
Blood Cancers Treated with Transplants at Our Chicago-Area Hospital
Several types of blood cancer can be treated with a stem cell transplant:
- Multiple myeloma, which develops in the bone marrow
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which is the most common type of blood cancer and affects white blood cells
- Leukemia, which is a group of blood cancers that includes acute myeloid leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia and chronic myelogenous leukemia
- Hodgkin lymphoma, which affects the lymphatic system
Learn more about additional treatment options for these diseases by visiting our Chicago Blood Cancer Center page.
What Sets Our Chicago Stem Cell Therapy Program Apart?
Our Stem Cell Transplant Program is dedicated to providing safe, effective, innovative treatments for blood cancers, supported by a whole-person approach to your care. We are committed to patient safety and helping you maintain your quality of life during and after treatment. Our clinicians and supportive care providers work together to help reduce the risk of infections if you have a suppressed immune system and address other potential side effects of treatment.
Some of the offerings that set us apart include:
- Help managing symptoms through various supportive care services such as nutritional support and behavioral health counseling
- Expertise in preventing, managing and treating graft-versus-host disease, a serious condition in which donor stem cells attack the patient’s healthy cells after a transplant
- An inpatient unit created with a stem cell patient’s comfort and safety in mind for extended stays, as well as on-site hotel rooms for caregivers and loved ones
- Access to innovative clinical trials for qualifying patients, allowing the exploration of possible new treatment options
- A strong survivorship program, ensuring any potential long-term effects are addressed
Our Chicago-area hospital is part of the City of Hope national network, which is one of the pioneers in the field of bone marrow transplantation. Hear from Dr. Tulio Rodriguez, Director of Hematology, Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program for our Illinois locations, as he talks about the City of Hope stem cell transplantation program difference.
Our Chicago-Area Stem Cell Program Clinical Recognitions
City of Hope Cancer Center is proud to be recognized and accredited by multiple distinguished health care organizations that assess and monitor the quality of cancer treatment and hold hospitals to the highest standards of patient care, including those listed below.
Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy is the threshold for excellence in cellular therapy, including bone marrow or cord blood transplantation for both autologous and allogeneic transplants. Our hospital has held this accreditation continuously for the past decade.
College of American Pathologists (CAP) Laboratory Accreditation Program accredits the entire spectrum of laboratory test disciplines with the most scientifically rigorous customized checklist requirements.
High Performing Hospital for Hematology, U.S. News & World Report’s 2025-26 ratings named City of Hope Chicago as “high performing” in the field of leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. This rating recognizes our dedication to exceptional care and positive patient outcomes for those being treated for a hematologic cancer.
Recognized for Exceeding Transplant Outcomes
Based on multivariate report in 2024 by the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research®, City of Hope Cancer Center’s one-year survival rate of allogeneic transplantations, achieved an overall one-year survival rate of 81% for patients receiving an allogeneic transplant for the first time. This is better than expected compared to similar patients transplanted throughout the nation.
Our Chicago-Area Stem Cell Transplant Experts
The stem cell transplant team at our Illinois City of Hope Cancer Center are experts in this complex, potentially lifesaving procedure. Our Stem Cell Program brings together hematologic oncologists and other cancer specialists to ensure that stem cell transplant patients receive the most advanced care possible, delivered by experienced clinical providers with compassion and respect.
Our team is led by Tulio Rodriguez, M.D., hematologic oncologist and director of the Hematology, Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program. A pioneer in hematologic malignancies and stem cell transplants, Dr. Rodriguez was recently recognized as a Crain’s Chicago Business 2024 Notable Health Care Leader for his work expanding our stem cell program. Read more about Dr. Rodriguez and the rest of the team below.
Dr. Rodriguez has over 20 years of experience treating blood cancer and is an expert in bone marrow transplantation. He has performed over 2,500 transplant procedures.
Dr. Bitran brings more than 50 years of experience diagnosing and treating a wide range of blood cancers, with a strong focus on lymphomas.
Dr. Dunavin works closely with patients diagnosed with hematologic malignancies, primarily leukemias, as well as blood disorders.
Referring a Patient for Stem Cell Transplantation to Our Chicago-Area Hospital
Health care providers and physicians who refer patients to City of Hope Cancer Center can be assured that their patients will receive the quality care they need with the urgency they deserve.
City of Hope offers an efficient process to facilitate a seamless transition for patients as they embark on their cancer treatment journey, and we work closely with referring physicians to transition patients back to their care when their treatment ends.
To refer a patient to City of Hope in Illinois, contact us by:
PHONE: 847-746-9990
FAX: 847-342-4089
EMAIL: [email protected]
Advancing Treatment through Stem Cell Collection in Illinois
City of Hope Cancer Center in Illinois is an NMDP network partner.
NMDP is a global nonprofit leader in cell therapy. With the help of blood stem cell donors from the world's most diverse registry and an extensive network of world-class transplant center and collection center partners, like City of Hope, NMDP is expanding access to treatment so that every patient can receive their lifesaving cell therapy. Discover how you can become an NMDP Registry member, access free services for patients or support the mission by visiting nmdp.org.
In 2024, our Apheresis team received the NMDP Simplify Award. This team oversees the process of removing the part of the blood used in a stem cell donation, while infusing the rest of the blood back to the donor. The team was awarded for their work in improving the donor process and experience. Watch the video to learn more about our awarded Apheresis team.
To learn more about the NMDP or for more information about becoming a donor or finding a match, visit the NMDP website or call 800-MARROW-2 (800-627-7692).
Make an Appointment With Our Chicago-Area Stem Cell Transplant Team
If you would like to make an appointment to talk to a stem cell transplant expert, call 877-524-4673 today.
Or learn more about becoming a patient at our Chicago-area Cancer Center.