- Specialized expertise in treating a wide range of complex, fast-growing blood cancers, blood conditions, and autoimmune disorders. Go to Conditions Treated
- Advanced treatment options with the latest cancer medications, radiation therapy, and breakthrough therapies, including CAR T-cell therapy. Go to Treatments
- Team-based approach with hematologists, hematologist oncologists, and medical and radiation oncologists, who work together to customize your care. Go to Your Care Team
- Clinical trials that provide access to innovative, lifesaving therapies not available at other medical centers. Go to Clinical Trials
- Comprehensive support services that prioritize your overall health and well-being, including psychotherapy, support groups, spiritual care, and nutrition support. Go to Supportive Services
- Ease of access with timely appointments and care in one place, including bone marrow transplants and treatment for cancer, noncancerous conditions, and related disorders. Go to Connecting to Care
Conditions Treated
At the Stanford Health Care Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, we treat complex, difficult-to-manage blood cancers, blood disorders, and autoimmune diseases. We provide tangible hope and innovative care to people with conditions previously seen as untreatable.
Our specialists may perform a blood or bone marrow transplant for chronic or fast-growing, resistant, or recurrent cancers and blood disorders. Some of the more common leukemias and blood disorders include:
- Acute myeloid leukemia (AML): In this blood cancer, the bone marrow makes too many granulocytes, a type of white blood cell that fights infections. This rapidly growing leukemia occurs more frequently in adults.
- Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL): This is the most common type of leukemia in young children. In this fast-growing cancer, bone marrow produces too many lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell.
- Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML): This slow-growing leukemia typically affects older adults and may not show symptoms for months or even years. Over time, cells can start growing more quickly.
- Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS): These blood disorders develop in the bone marrow, preventing it from making enough red blood cells, platelets, and white blood cells.
- Myelofibrosis: This is a rare form of cancer in the bone marrow that disrupts production of blood cells and can result in severe anemia.
We treat resistant or recurrent Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. These varied diseases have many subtypes. The major subtypes include:
- Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: This is the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and it typically grows quickly.
- Follicular lymphoma: About 20% to 30% of people with non-Hodgkin lymphoma have this slow-growing subtype.
- Mantle cell lymphoma: A fast-growing non-Hodgkin lymphoma, this subtype spreads to other parts of the body.
- Mycosis fungoides: This is the most common type of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, and it starts as an itchy, red rash.
- Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma (SLL)/ Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL): This slow-growing lymphoma tends to affect adults more than children.
Our specialists may perform a blood or bone marrow transplant for chronic or fast-growing, resistant, or recurrent cancers, and plasma cell disorders such as:
- Multiple myeloma: This type of cancer develops in the plasma cells of bone marrow and crowds out healthy cells.
- Amyloidosis: This group of disorders results from a build-up of amyloid, an abnormal protein that prevents organs from working properly.
Blood and bone marrow transplants can treat other noncancerous disorders, including:
- Aplastic anemia: The body stops making enough new blood cells, leading to fatigue, infections, and uncontrolled bleeding.
- Sickle cell anemia: This is a common inherited blood disorder which causes some red blood cells to die early, thereby causing a constant shortage of red blood cells.
When first-line therapies don’t fully treat your condition, you may need a blood or bone marrow transplant or cellular therapy. We are the largest blood and marrow transplant program in Northern California, performing more than 300 transplants each year. Our program is among the select centers receiving funding from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to research better care options.
Cell therapy is among the most promising avenues for cancer treatment available today. Stanford researchers helped to develop the first FDA-approved cancer cell therapies, and Stanford remains at the leading edge of CAR T-cell therapy research to expand the use of cell therapy across more types of cancer.
We are also fully accredited by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT) and a member of the Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network of the NCI.
These distinctions mean that you have access to the latest treatments and comprehensive, specialized care. Our specialists focus exclusively on blood and bone marrow transplants and cell therapies and have deep knowledge and extensive experience in managing all transplant types.
INNOVATION HIGHLIGHTS
- Stanford Medical researchers helped develop the first FDA-approved cellular therapies to treat cancer.
- We are one of the select hospitals in the country approved to offer CAR T-cell therapy, a pioneering treatment for some blood cancers and disorders.
- We are internationally recognized for our research on donor transplants and the mechanisms of cellular therapy.
- Our medical center has a rare, highly specialized on-site cell therapy facility for collecting and processing stem cells from donors’ blood.
Our transplant team conducts a physical exam and carefully reviews your medical history and records to inform treatment recommendations. Our specialists perform bone marrow transplants and cellular therapy when other advanced therapies have not managed a condition.
If you’re a candidate for a blood and marrow transplant, you’ll receive high doses of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combination. We use the latest treatments to destroy cancer cells.
The two main types of transplants are:
- Allogeneic transplant: You receive healthy stem cells from a related donor, such as a sibling or parent, or an unrelated donor from a bone marrow registry. Or, you receive stem cells from umbilical cord blood.
- Autologous transplant: You receive your own stem cells, which the doctor removes and freezes before you undergo chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
Chimeric Antigen Receptor Therapy, or CAR T-Cell Therapy, is a type of immunotherapy that increases the capacity of immune cells to fight disease. A type of white blood cell called a T-Cell is collected and genetically modified to develop a chimeric antigen receptor. Those receptors attach to cancer cells and kill them.
Our program offers CAR T-Cell Therapy, a breakthrough, one-time treatment for several types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and leukemia. This therapy helps people who didn’t improve after chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or stem cell transplant.
CAR T-cell therapy is a type of immunotherapy that enhances your body’s ability to destroy cancer cells. During CAR T-cell therapy, specialists:
- Remove T cells from your blood
- Modify T cells in the lab to make cancer-attacking chimeric antigen receptors (CARs)
- Return the T cells to your body through an infusion
Your wellness plays a role in the success of your treatment. We offer our Circle of Care to assist you and your family throughout your cancer journey. Whether it's nutrition services, integrative medicine, or support groups, we're here for you when you need us.
Innovation Through Clinical Research
Some of Silicon Valley’s brightest scientific minds are at the Stanford Cancer Institute and the Stanford Medicine Cancer Center. Medical discoveries and clinical advances happen here. Our physicians and scientists work every day to improve cancer prevention, detection, and care. We offer advanced diagnostics, the latest treatment technologies and techniques, and pioneering therapies in development through clinical trials. Let us put innovation to work for you.
Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate a new medical approach, device, drug, or other treatment. As a Stanford Health Care patient, you may have access to the latest, advanced clinical trials.
Open trials refer to studies currently recruiting participants or that may recruit participants in the near future. Closed trials are not currently enrolling, but similar studies may open in the future.
To learn more about the clinical trials we offer, visit: Stanford Cancer Institute Clinical Trials.
We know cancer is more than a condition—it's one of life's greatest disruptors. We offer you and your caregivers the support you need at every step of the way, including a team that actively listens, develops a plan for your unique situation, and stays with you from diagnosis to treatment and beyond.
Your transplant and cell therapy team includes multiple specialists with extensive experience performing and managing bone marrow transplants and cell therapies.
Your Doctors
Hematologist
Hematologists are doctors who prevent, diagnose, and treat blood disorders. Stanford Medical hematologists on the transplant team focus solely on managing bone marrow transplants.
View All {0} Hematologists »Hematologist-Oncologist
Hematologist oncologists specialize in diagnosing blood cancers and using treatments, such as chemotherapy, to destroy cancer cells.
View All {0} Hematologist-Oncologists »Infectious Disease Specialists
Infectious disease specialists are doctors who diagnose and treat acute and chronic infections caused by bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms. These specialists step in after your transplant to help you prevent or treat an infection.
View 1 Infectious Disease Specialist »Medical Oncologist
Medical oncologists have specialized training in diagnosing and treating cancer using medications, including chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
View All {0} Medical Oncologists »Radiation Oncologist
Radiation oncologists specialize in using high-energy radiation beams to destroy cancer cells or prevent its spread while protecting healthy tissue.
View All {0} Radiation Oncologists »Advanced Practice Providers (APPs)
Our skilled nurse practitioners specialize in treating and managing bone marrow transplants. They may see you independently or alongside another transplant specialist. APPs can give you a thorough exam, write prescriptions, and help prevent or treat any issues. Our APPs meet weekly to discuss patient needs.
View All {0} Advanced Practice Provider Doctors »Extended Care Team
Care Coordinators
Care coordinators provide you with information and assistance before and during your appointment.
- Medical Assistant: Medical assistants work with our team to help provide care. They may prepare you for an examination, assist your doctor, or take your vital signs before your appointment.
- Patient Care Coordinator: Our patient care coordinators help you with scheduling appointments and accessing your lab results. They will be your first line of contact before you see your provider and will guide you through your transplant and follow-up care.
- Patient Access Representative: Patient access representatives can answer any questions you have about insurance coverage, will assist you with applying for insurance, and can refer you to a Stanford Health Care financial counselor.
Research Coordinators
Stanford Medical specialists are very involved in research efforts to advance transplant care. Research coordinators help screen candidates for possible participation in clinical research trials.
Cell Pharmacist
Our cell pharmacists are licensed pharmacists who are specifically trained to process and manage cells for a range of cellular therapies.
At Stanford Health Care, we have a separate on-site cellular therapy facility, where we produce and process cells for our innovative treatments. Learn more about how we prioritize the security and quality of all our cell collections at our advanced facility.
Support Services
Your wellness is our top priority. As part of your care, we design a wellness plan to support you and your family before, during, and after treatment.
We offer a wide array of support services to help you to feel your best. Contact our Cancer Care Services for your personal support plan.
We make access to care as simple as possible. We anticipate what you need and provide support when you need it. Our network of locations puts our services within your reach. User-friendly digital health tools help you stay connected with your care team. We accept most insurance plans and offer discounted transportation, short-stay options, and international travel and translation services. We help make sense of the details, so you can make decisions that are right for you.
Brain and spine tumor care is accessible and convenient at Stanford Health Care. Our scheduling staff can coordinate your appointments if needed, so that you can see multiple providers during a single trip.
For Referring Physicians
PHYSICIAN HELPLINE
Fax: 650-320-9443
Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Stanford Health Care provides comprehensive services to refer and track patients, as well as the latest information and news for physicians and office staff. For help with all referral needs and questions, visit Referring Physicians.
You may also submit a web referral or complete a referral form and fax it to 650-320-9443 or email the Referral Center at ReferralCenter@stanfordhealthcare.org.
HOW TO REFER
Email or fax a cancer referral form with supporting documentation to ReferralCenter@stanfordhealthcare.org or 650-320-9443.
To request an appointment with one of our cancer specialists, call 650-498-6000.