Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation & Cellular Therapy Program
The Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Program at City of Hope is part of one of the world’s largest and most successful transplant centers. We are dedicated to exceptional and innovative patient care, supported by research and education.
Conditions We Treat
City of Hope’s pediatric physicians are board-certified experts in pediatric hematology/oncology, bringing a wealth of knowledge and compassion to patient care. The program is led by researchers renowned for their efforts in providing cures to children, adolescents and young adults with a wide spectrum of pediatric cancers and blood diseases, including:
- Leukemias, such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, JMML (juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia), BPDCN (blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm) and chronic myelogenous leukemia
- Lymphomas, including both Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Sickle cell disease and thalassemia
- Acquired bone marrow failure, including aplastic anemia, PNH (paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria) and MDS (myelodysplastic syndrome)
- Inherited bone marrow failure syndromes:
- Diamond-Blackfan anemia
- Dyskeratosis congenita
- Fanconi’s anemia
- Langerhans cell histiocytosis and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis
- Solid tumors
Treatment Options
Bone marrow transplants are performed when a patient’s bone marrow, which makes the cells in the blood, is not working properly or has been destroyed by chemotherapy or radiation. We perform two types of bone marrow transplants:
- Allogeneic transplants, in which a patient’s bone marrow is replaced with stem cells from a healthy donor, such as a sibling, a volunteer or the umbilical cord blood of a half-matched, related donor
- Autologous transplants, which use the patient’s own stem cells
Immunotherapy is an exciting new form of cancer treatment that uses a body’s own immune system to kill cancer cells. Through groundbreaking research and clinical trials, we are providing this innovative treatment to our patients with leukemia and lymphoma.
We offer the FDA-approved CAR T cell therapy Kymriah to patients up to 25 years old with relapsed or resistant acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
The City of Hope Difference
- State-of-the-art research performed on our campus, including access to innovative clinical studies
- A multidisciplinary team, including pediatric oncologists, hematologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists, pathologists and other specialists
- Experts in psychology and social work, as well as recreational, occupational and physical therapy, music therapy and school reintegration
- The Sheri & Les Biller Patient and Family Resource Center
- Support programs for adolescents and young adults, assisting with the often difficult transition into adulthood at the time of illness
- Our late effects/survivorship clinic, which supports patients long after their transplant
City of Hope participates in the Children’s Oncology Group, Pediatric Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Consortium and Blood and Marrow Clinical Trials Network research protocols, as well as Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research and National Marrow Donor Program. This helps us advance our progress through research and innovation. We are also accredited by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy and benefit from the longstanding, world-renowned supportive programs here at City of Hope, including our expert-matched unrelated donor search team and stem cell processing center.
For more information on our pediatric cancer research, including ongoing clinical trials, visit City of Hope’s Clinical Trials Online website.
Bone Marrow Transplant/Cellular Therapy Cancer Care Team
For Lior Goldberg, M.D., his work as pediatric oncologist centers around curiosity, compassion and courage. He makes sure to genuinely get to know the patients and families he serves, sharing in the difficult aspects of cancer and its treatment while helping ease distress.
Nicole Karras, M.D., is a pediatric physician who specializes in treating children diagnosed with cancer, particularly blood cancers — such as leukemias and lymphomas — that would require stem cell transplant therapy.
Lindsey Murphy, M.D., M.S., is an assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at City of Hope in Duarte, California.
Anna Pawlowska, M.D., specializes in treating young people with leukemia and directs our Pediatric Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Program.
Dr. Wang is an assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at City of Hope, Duarte.
