Ricardo Spielberger, M.D.

(877) 460-4673
Ricardo Spielberger, M.D.
Hematologist-Oncologist
Clinical Expertise
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation
  • Stem Cell Transplantation
Research Area
  • Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation
Academic Appointments

Professor, Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

Clinical Teams
Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation — Kaiser
Ricardo Spielberger, M.D., is a board certified medical oncologist and hematologist with subspecialty training in stem cell transplantation. He is also a member of the City of Hope/Kaiser Bone Marrow Transplantation Team.

Originally from Venezuela, Dr. Spielberger went to medical school in that country, finishing in 1984. Shortly thereafter, he and his wife relocated to Dallas, where he completed his three-year residency at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

He then moved to Chicago for training in hematology and medical oncology at University of Chicago. In 1993, Dr. Spielberger made his way to Southern California, where he completed his transplant fellowship.

Dr. Spielberger counts himself fortunate to work with an excellent team that shares a common goal of providing the best and most comprehensive care to his patients.

Bone marrow and stem cell transplants involve not just a patient’s physical well-being, he says, but also their emotional health. He is proud and privileged to provide care for the whole patient, not just their disease.

When not practicing medicine, Spielberger enjoys family dinners together with his wife and three children. He and his family enjoy Southern California’s diverse people and places.

Location

Education & Experience

Board Certifications

  • American Society of Hematology
  • American Society of Medical Oncology
  • American Board of Internal Medicine

Degrees

  • 1978-1985, Universidad Central de Venezuela, "Luis Razetti" Medical School, Caracas-Venezuela

Fellowship

  • 1993-1994, Bone Marrow Transplantation, City of Hope, Duarte, CA
  • 1991-1993, Hematology/Oncology, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL

Residency

  • 1988-1990, Internal Medicine, Parkland Memorial Hospital, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, TX

Internship

  • 1987-1988, Internal Medicine, Parkland Memorial Hospital, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, TX

Awards & Memberships

Memberships

  • Medical Board of California

  • Venezuelan College of Physicians

  • American Society of Hematology

  • American Society of Clinical Oncology

  • American Society of Bone Marrow Transplantation

Publications

  • Ong SY, Pak S, Mei M, Wang Y, Popplewell L, Baird JH, Herrera AF, Shouse G, Nikolaenko L, Zain J, Godfrey J, Htut M, Aribi A, Spielberger R, Mansour J, Forman SJ, Palmer J, Budde LE. Bendamustine lymphodepletion is a well-tolerated alternative to fludarabine and cyclophosphamide lymphodepletion for axicabtagene ciloleucel therapy for aggressive B-cell lymphoma. Am J Hematol. 2023 Sep 5. doi: 10.1002/ajh.27069. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37668287.
  • Aribi A, Salhotra A, Afkhami M, Munteanu A, Ali H, Aldoss I, Otoukesh S, Al Malki MM, Sandhu KS, Koller P, Arslan S, Stewart F, Artz A, Curtin P, Ball B, O'Hearn J, Spielberger R, Smith E, Budde E, Nakamura R, Stein A, Forman S, Marcucci G, Becker PS, Pullarkat V.WT1-mutated acute myeloid leukemia is sensitive to fludarabine-based chemotherapy and conditioning regimens. Leuk Lymphoma. 2023 Aug 3:1-11. doi: 10.1080/10428194.2023.2241096. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37533373.
  • Mei M, Palmer J, Tsai NN, Simpson J, O'Hearn J, Stein A, Forman S, Spielberger R, Cai JL, Htut M, Nakamura R, Al Malki MM, Herrera A, Wong J, Nademanee A. Results of a Phase II Trial of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Using90Y-Ibritumomab Tiuxetan (Zevalin) in Combination With Fludarabine and Melphalan in Patients With High-Risk B-Cell Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk. 2023 Sep;23(9):e268-e276. doi: 10.1016/j.clml.2023.05.011. Epub 2023 May 23. PMID: 37301631.
  • Salhotra A, Sandhu KS, Yang D, Mokhtari S, O'Hearn J, Tegtmeier B, Al Malki MM, Abella J, Meguro A, Dickter J, Khambapati S, Spielberger R, Artz A, Forman SJ, Smith E, Nakamura R, Dadwal SS. Association of pre-transplant vancomycin resistant enterococcus colonization status on long-term outcomes of allogeneic-hematopoietic cell transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2023 Mar;58(3):346-348. doi: 10.1038/s41409-022-01895-0. Epub 2022 Dec 16. PMID: 36526805.
  • Herrera AF, Chen L, Nieto Y, Holmberg L, Johnston P, Mei M, Popplewell L, Armenian S, Cao T, Farol L, Sahebi F, Spielberger R, Chen R, Nademanee A, Puverel S, Nwangwu M, Lee P, Song J, Skarbnik A, Kennedy N, Peters L, Rosen ST, Kwak LW, Forman SJ, Feldman T. Brentuximab vedotin plus nivolumab after autologous haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation for adult patients with high-risk classic Hodgkin lymphoma: a multicentre, phase 2 trial. Lancet Haematol. 2023 Jan;10(1):e14-e23. doi: 10.1016/S2352-3026(22)00318-0. Epub 2022 Nov 17. PMID: 36403579.
  • Ladbury C, Somlo G, Dagis A, Yang D, Armenian S, Song JY, Sahebi F, Spielberger R, Popplewell L, Parker P, Forman S, Snyder D, Rincon A, Liu A, Frankel P, Wong J. Long-Term Follow-Up of Multiple Myeloma Patients Treated with Tandem Autologous Transplantation Following Melphalan and Upon Recovery, Total Marrow Irradiation. Transplant Cell Ther. 2022 Jul;28(7):367.e1-367.e9. doi: 10.1016/j.jtct.2022.04.022. Epub 2022 May 6. PMID: 35534000.
  • Stein AS, Al Malki MM, Yang D, Palmer JM, Tsai NC, Aldoss I, Ali H, Aribi A, Artz A, Dandapani S, Farol L, Hui S, Liu A, Nakamura R, Pullarkat V, Radany E, Rosenthal J, Salhotra A, Sanchez JF, Spielberger R, Marcucci G, Forman SJ, Wong J. Total Marrow and Lymphoid Irradiation with Post-Transplantation Cyclophosphamide for Patients with AML in Remission. Transplant Cell Ther. 2022 Jul;28(7):368.e1-368.e7. doi: 10.1016/j.jtct.2022.03.025. Epub 2022 Apr 6. PMID: 35398328; PMCID: PMC9253081.
  • Herrera AF, Palmer J, Adhikarla V, Yamauchi D, Poku EK, Bading J, Yazaki P, Dandapani S, Mei M, Chen R, Cao T, Karras N, McTague P, Nademanee A, Popplewell L, Sahebi F, Shively JE, Simpson J, Smith DL, Song J, Spielberger R, Tsai NC, Thomas SH, Forman SJ, Colcher D, Wu AM, Wong J, Smith E. Anti-CD25 radioimmunotherapy with BEAM autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation conditioning in Hodgkin lymphoma. Blood Adv. 2021 Dec 14;5(23):5300-5311. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2021004981. PMID: 34638132; PMCID: PMC9153018.
  • Aldoss I, Yang D, Malki MMA, Mei M, Mokhtari S, Artz A, Cao T, Salhotra A, Ali H, Aribi A, Khaled S, Arslan S, Sandhu K, Koller P, Mansour J, Spielberger R, Stein A, Snyder D, Marcucci G, Forman SJ, Nakamura R, Pullarkat V. Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Relapsed and Refractory Philadelphia Negative B Cell ALL in the Era of Novel Salvage Therapies. Transplant Cell Ther. 2021 Mar;27(3):255.e1-255.e9. doi: 10.1016/j.jtct.2020.12.020. Epub 2020 Dec 22. PMID: 33781525.
  • Epstein JB, Raber-Durlacher JE, Epstein GL, Hazenberg MD, Tzachanis D, Spielberger RT. Chronic oral graft-versus-host disease: induction and maintenance therapy with photobiomodulation therapy. Support Care Cancer. 2021 Mar;29(3):1387-1394. doi: 10.1007/s00520-020-05626-3. Epub 2020 Jul 14. PMID: 32666212.
  • Modi B, Hernandez-Henderson M, Yang D, Klein J, Dadwal S, Kopp E, Huelsman K, Mokhtari S, Ali H, Malki MMA, Spielberger R, et al. Ruxolitinib as Salvage Therapy for Chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2019 Feb;25(2):265-269. doi: 10.1016/j.bbmt.2018.09.003. Epub 2018 Sep 8. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2019. PMID: 30201397
  • Salhotra A, Yang D, Mokhtari S, Malki MMA, Ali H, Sandhu KS, Aribi A, Khaled S, Mei M, Budde E, Snyder D, Cao T, Spielberger R, et al. Outcomes of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation after Salvage Therapy with Blinatumomab in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2020 Jun;26(6):1084-1090. doi: 10.1016/j.bbmt.2020.01.029. Epub 2020 Feb 5. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2020. PMID: 32035275
  • Pourmoussa AM, Spielberger R, Cai J, Khoshbin O, Farol L, Cao T, Sahebi F, Pourmoussa AM, et al. Predictive Factors for Early Relapse in Multiple Myeloma after Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant. Perm J. 2019;23:19.012. doi: 10.7812/TPP/19.012. Epub 2019 Oct 11. Perm J. 2019. PMID: 31926575
  • Epstein JB, Raber-Durlacher JE, Epstein GL, Hazenberg MD, Tzachanis D, Spielberger RT.Epstein JB, et al. Chronic oral graft-versus-host disease: induction and maintenance therapy with photobiomodulation therapy. Among authors: spielberger rt. Support Care Cancer. 2021 Mar;29(3):1387-1394. doi: 10.1007/s00520-020-05626-3. Epub 2020 Jul 14. Support Care Cancer. 2021. PMID: 32666212
  • Salhotra A, Hui S, Yang D, Mokhtari S, Mei M, Al Malki MM, Aldoss I, Ali H, Sandhu KS, Aribi A, Khaled S, Dandapani S, Peng K, Teh JB, Murata-Collins J, Budde E, Dadwal S, Pullarkat V, Snyder D, Spielberger R, et al. Long-Term Outcomes of Patients with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia Treated with Myeloablative Fractionated Total Body Irradiation TBI-Based Conditioning with a Tacrolimus- and Sirolimus-Based Graft-versus-Host Disease Prophylaxis Regimen: 6-Year Follow-Up from a Single Center. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2020 Feb;26(2):292-299. doi: 10.1016/j.bbmt.2019.09.017. Epub 2019 Sep 16. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2020. PMID: 31536825
  • Salhotra A, Shan Y, Tsai NC, Sanchez JF, Aldoss I, Ali H, Paris T, Spielberger R, Cao TM, Nademanee A, Forman SJ, Chen R.Salhotra A, et al. Hyperfractionated Cyclophosphamide, Vincristine, Doxorubicin, and Dexamethasone Chemotherapy in Mantle Cell Lymphoma Patients Is Associated with Higher Rates of Hematopoietic Progenitor Cell Mobilization Failure despite Plerixafor Rescue. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2017 Aug;23(8):1264-1268. doi: 10.1016/j.bbmt.2017.04.011. Epub 2017 Apr 18. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2017. PMID: 28434928
  • Zhou W, Longmate J, Lacey SF, Palmer JM, Gallez-Hawkins G, Thao L, Spielberger R, et al. Impact of donor CMV status on viral infection and reconstitution of multifunction CMV-specific T cells in CMV-positive transplant recipients Blood. 2009 Jun 18;113(25):6465-76. doi: 10.1182/blood-2009-02-203307. Epub 2009 Apr 15. Blood. 2009. PMID: 19369230
  • Aldoss I, Stiller T, Tsai NC, Song JY, Cao T, Bandara NA, Salhotra A, Khaled S, Aribi A, Al Malki MM, Mei M, Ali H, Spielberger R, et al. Therapy-related acute lymphoblastic leukemia has distinct clinical and cytogenetic features compared to de novo acute lymphoblastic leukemia, but outcomes are comparable in transplanted patients.  Haematologica. 2018 Oct;103(10):1662-1668. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2018.193599. Epub 2018 Jun 14. Haematologica. 2018. PMID: 29903756
  • Parker P, Chao NJ, Ben-Ezra J, Slatkin N, Openshaw H, Niland JC, Linker CA, Greffe BS, Kashyap A, Molina A, Nademanee A, O'Donnell MR, Planas I, Sheibani K, Smith EP, Snyder DS, Spielberger R, et al. Polymyositis as a manifestation of chronic graft-versus-host disease. Medicine (Baltimore). 1996 Sep;75(5):279-85. doi: 10.1097/00005792-199609000-00004.Medicine (Baltimore). 1996. PMID: 8862349
  • Aldoss I, Pham A, Li SM, Gendzekhadze K, Afkhami M, Telatar M, Hong H, Padeganeh A, Bedell V, Cao T, Khaled SK, Malki MMA, Salhotra A, Ali H, Aribi A, Palmer J, Aoun P, Spielberger R, et al. Favorable impact of allogeneic stem cell transplantation in patients with therapy-related myelodysplasia regardless of TP53 mutational status. Haematologica. 2017 Dec;102(12):2030-2038. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2017.172544. Epub 2017 Sep 29. Haematologica. 2017. PMID: 28971906

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