Our Services
The Bone Marrow Transplant program at the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center has been committed to developing leading-edge strategies for autologous and allogeneic bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for a wide variety of hematologic malignancies and solid tumors and other life-threatening hematologic disorders. By utilizing a multidisciplinary approach to evaluation, management, and treatment, we are able to provide patients with care that is tailored to their particular needs.

We have been successful with HLA-mismatched transplant strategies and, for patients with multiple myeloma (bone marrow cancer) and kidney failure, we have performed the world's first successful simultaneous kidney and bone marrow transplants from genetically related donors.

The Bone Marrow Transplant Program:

• Received the Trailblazer Award from the National Bone Marrow Collection Center for developing and implementing innovative programs that lead to excellent patient care.
• Is an approved allogeneic unrelated donor collection center for the National Bone Marrow Donor Program and is designated by the National Institutes of Health as an autologous transplant center for the Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALG-B) group cooperative study.
• Is a member of the International Bone Marrow Transplant Registry and is accredited by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Hematopoeitic Cellular Therapies (FACT).
• We are part of Dana-Farber/Partners CancerCare, which brings together the expertise of Massachusetts General Hospital, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women's Hospital.

Advanced Treatments
The Bone Marrow Transplant Program at Massachusetts General Hospital is world-renowned for its clinical accomplishments, state-of-the-art technology and research endeavors. Our bone marrow transplant specialists, dedicated to reducing transplant toxicity and improving transplant tolerance, are recognized authorities in their field and work closely with multidisciplinary teams to bring our patients considerable knowledge and experience. Known for handling the most difficult cases, our staff treats many patients who cannot find treatment elsewhere, including those who are in advanced stages of their disease, older, or have multiple medical conditions. Among the areas for which our bone marrow transplant team has special interest are:

• Non-myeloablative preparative therapy for matched stem cell transplantation
• Mismatched related donor transplants
• Adoptive immunotherapy using donor leukocyte infusion for advanced hematologic malignancy
• Combined bone marrow and solid organ transplantation for tolerance induction and treatment of hematologic malignancy
• Cord blood transplantation

Committed to providing our patients with the most advanced treatment available, we work closely with colleagues in transplant surgery and with research scientists who conduct basic and clinical research. By our collaborative work with our colleagues in the Transplantation Biology Research Center and the Department of Transplant Surgery, we have been in the lead in innovative clinical trials for mismatched donor transplants and for induction tolerance for both bone marrow and solid organ transplants.

Support & Coping
Because life-threatening illnesses can impact a patient’s quality of life and place stress on the entire family, we believe that high-quality care should encompass the whole patient by addressing physical, psychological, and spiritual needs. The bone marrow transplant program staff has several special programs designed to help patients and families cope with both medical and daily life situations.

On The Road To Transplant - For Patients and Loved Ones
Considering a Bone Marrow Transplant can be an overwhelming decision, especially, if traveling from out of town. Learning from staff, and talking with others who have walked this road and navigated the system, can help to relieve some of the anxiety.

A new sharing and learning round-table will begin for all people who are considering a Bone Marrow Transplant. This forum will be offered twice per month on the 2nd Tuesday, in the morning, and 4th Thursday, in the afternoon.

Next Program begins:

2nd Tuesday of the month 10:30 – 11:15 am
4th Thursday of the month 2:00 – 3:15 pm
Cox 1, Bone Marrow Transplant Program
Contact: Betsy Lang, LICSW, OSW-C
Clinical Social Worker, 617-724-0596

Other Programs Offered:

• Case Management: As a member of the patient’s multidisciplinary treatment team, the case manager communications frequently with patients and their families and acts as a liaison between patients and providers and handles all reimbursement issues. The case manager facilitates the patient’s care in the acute phase and ensures that the patient has whatever support services are needed. As a result, patients receive the highest quality, most cost-effective care possible.
• Parenting At A Challenging Time (PACT): This is a parenting support program for patients diagnosed with life-threatening cancer. One of the few programs in the country of its kind, it features child psychiatrists and psychologists who are available on both an inpatient and outpatient basis to address parent’s questions and help them to understand how children view medical illness.

To find the upcoming PACT program, support and education workshops, and wellness services offered this month, please view the HOPES calendar.