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
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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
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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. 

CAR T Cell Therapy
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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
Lior Goldberg, M.D.
Lior Goldberg, M.D., M.Sc.
Pediatric Hematologist-Oncologist
Duarte - Main Campus

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 A. Karras, M.D.
Pediatric Hematologist-Oncologist; Associate Clinical Professor, Pediatrics
Duarte - Main Campus

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
Lindsey Murphy, M.D., M.S.
Pediatric Hematologist-Oncologist
Duarte - Main Campus

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.
Pediatric Hematologist-Oncologist
Duarte - Main Campus

Anna Pawlowska, M.D., specializes in treating young people with leukemia and directs our Pediatric Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Program.

Lisa Gutierrez, PNP
Lisa Gutierrez, PNP
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Lisa is a pediatric bone marrow transplant nurse practitioner (NP) in the Department of Pediatrics at City of Hope. She has more than 18 years of experience as an RN/NP in pediatric hematology/oncology and bone marrow transplants. Lisa has worked at City of Hope for the last 12 years.EducationBachelor of Science in Nursing, Dominican University of CaliforniaMaster of Science in Nursing, Azusa Pacific University Certifications as a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (CPNP-PC) and in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nursing (CPHON)Licenses and AffiliationsLicensed with the California Board of Registered Nursing and Pediatric Nursing Certification BoardAffiliated with the Association of Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nurses, Children’s Oncology Group, the Oncology Nursing Society, NAPNAP and the California Association for Nurse Practitioners
Debbie Hitt, RN
Debbie Hitt, R.N.
Pediatric Nurse Coordinator
Debbie is a pediatric nurse coordinator practicing in HCT/CAR T cell therapy at City of Hope’s Department of Pediatrics. She has 40 years of experience working as an R.N. at City of Hope, 37 of those as a pediatric nurse coordinator. EducationBachelor of Science in Nursing, Azusa Pacific University Certifications in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nursing (CPHON) and as a Bone Marrow Transplantation Certified Nurse (BMTCN) Licenses and AffiliationsLicensed with the California Board of Nursing.Affiliated with the Association of Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nurses and Children’s Oncology Group
Cheryl Oliver-Cervantes, RN
Cheryl Oliver-Cervantes, R.N.
Pediatric Nurse Coordinator
Cheryl is a pediatric nurse coordinator in City of Hope’s Department of Pediatrics HCT/cellular therapy. She has more than 20 years of experience as an R.N. and has worked at City of Hope for 23 years.Education Associate of Science in Nursing, Los Angeles County College of Nursing Bachelor of Science in Nursing, California State University, FullertonCertified in Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nursing (CPHON) and as a Bone Marrow Transplantation Certified Nurse (BMTCN)Licenses and AffiliationsLicensed with the California Board of Registered Nursing Affiliated with the Association of Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nurses and Children’s Oncology Group
Yossyanne Simbolon, PNP
Yossyanne Simbolon, PNP
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Yossyanne is a board-certified pediatric nurse practitioner in the Department of Pediatrics at City of Hope. She currently provides care to pediatric patients in the acute care setting and has served the community as a primary care provider and as nurse educator in both clinical and theoretical settingsEducationBachelor of Science in Nursing, Loma Linda UniversityMaster of Science in Nursing, from California State University, Long BeachLicenses and AffiliationsBoard of Nursing CaliforniaPediatric Nursing Certification BoardEnd of Life CareAssociation of Pediatric Hematology/OncologyChildren’s Oncology GroupNIH National Cancer Institute
Jackelene Valdez, RN
Jackelene Valdez, R.N.
Pediatric Nurse Coordinator
Jackelene is a pediatric nurse coordinator in the Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at City of Hope. She has 13 years of experience working at City of Hope.EducationBachelor of Science in NursingCertifications in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nursing (CPHON) and as a Bone Marrow Transplantation Certified Nurse (BMTCN)Licenses and AffiliationsLicensed with the California Board of Nursing Affiliated with the Association of Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nurses, the Oncology Nursing Society and the Southern California Association of Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nurses