Bone Marrow Transplant
Our Bone Marrow Transplant program is 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, solid tumors and other life-threatening hematologic disorders
Meet Our Team
Hematology and Medical Oncology
- Eyal C. Attar, MD
- Karen Kuhn Ballen, MD
- Yi-Bin Chen, MD
- Bimalangshu R. Dey, MD, PhD
- Steven L. McAfee, MD
- Thomas R. Spitzer, MD
- Julia E. (Judy) Foster, NP
- Cathleen M. Poliquin, NP
Oncology Nursing
- Joanne Kennedy, RN Research Nurse
Social Work
- Betsy M. Lang, MSW, LICSW
Transplant Coordinators
- Debra C. Dwinell, RN
- Adrienne Harrison
Our Approach
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).
- Is 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.
About This Program
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
Myeloma Bone Disease / Multiple Myeloma
Myeloma bone disease is cancer that affects certain white blood cells called plasma cells.
Support and Wellness
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.
HOPES Program
The HOPES Program provides free wellness services, plus education and support workshops for patients with cancer, their families and their friends. Our services focus on helping you take care of your whole self – mind, body and spirit.
Maxwell V. Blum Cancer Resource Room
The Maxwell V. Blum Cancer Resource Room at the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center provides cancer patients and their families with information and resources for living with cancer.
Request an appointment at the Cancer Center 
Contact the Cancer Center to schedule an appointment with one of our cancer specialists
Discover the Cancer Center patient experience
Our approach to patient care unites cancer specialists across the hospital to create a personalized treatment plan for each patient, ensuring the best possible outcomes.
