Bone Marrow & Stem Cell Transplants

Why choose UCLA Health for blood and bone marrow transplantation procedures?

When you have blood cancer or a bone marrow disorder, where you receive care can be a lifesaving decision. The UCLA Health Blood and Bone Marrow Transplant & Cellular Therapies Program at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center offers advanced therapies from a team of clinical experts.

We understand that undergoing a bone marrow transplant can be an overwhelming process. Our team walks you through each step in the treatment journey — from diagnosis through transplant surgery and recovery. Highlights of our program include: 

History of innovation: We performed one of the very first successful transplants in 1968. Since then, we have treated more than 5,000 adults and children. Our specialists incorporate the latest research and therapies into their treatment protocols, so you always receive the most up-to-date options.

Access to new treatments: As a leading academic medical center, we offer a range of clinical trials in blood cancer and bone marrow treatment. For example, we were part of the landmark COBALT study that found we could use blood from an umbilical cord as a source of stem cells for transplants. We are also one of the first centers in the nation to treat both diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with CAR T-cell therapies.

Collaborative approach: Our team includes experts in oncology, hematology, immunology and infectious diseases. These specialists work together to develop personalized treatment plans that offer you the best chance for a positive outcome.

Full-spectrum care: Our specialists care for you from diagnosis through your transplant surgery. We deliver inpatient treatment for those who need it and also perform transplants at the UCLA Outpatient Stem Cell Transplantation Clinic. At the clinic, you receive hospital-level care in a convenient outpatient setting.

Our areas of care

Our specialists care for adults and children with blood cancer, bone marrow cancer and bone marrow disorders.

What is a stem cell transplant?

Doctors sometimes use the terms “bone marrow transplant” and “stem cell transplant” interchangeably. That's because they are two ways to describe the treatment “hematopoietic cell transplant.”

If you need a transplant to treat blood or bone marrow cancer, your treatment will involve stem cells. Those stem cells may come from:

• Your own bone marrow
• Bone marrow from a donor
• Your own blood
• Blood from a donor
• Blood from a donated umbilical cord

The type of transplant your provider uses depends on the type of cancer you have and where we can find the best source of a good match. Our areas of care include:

Adult bone marrow transplants

Our team has been performing bone marrow cell transplants since 1973. We use the latest research and most advanced treatments to maximize your chances of a successful outcome.  

Pediatric bone marrow transplants

We perform transplants at UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital, which U.S. News & World Report recognizes among the nation's best children's hospitals. In this setting, families have access to some of the nation's top pediatric cancer and transplant specialists.

Bone marrow donations

For a bone marrow transplant to work, the donor and the recipient need to be a good match. We help transplant recipients and their families find the best donor match. We also work with donors from when they undergo testing to find out if they're a good match to when they donate bone marrow stem cells.

Conditions we treat

Bone marrow transplants help to generate new healthy cells and eliminate cancer. You may be a candidate for a bone marrow transplant if you have: 

• Aplastic anemia: A rare condition where your body stops producing healthy blood cells.
• Bone marrow disorders (hematologic malignancy): Conditions that lead to problems with how stem cells develop.
• Leukemia: A blood cancer caused by having too many white blood cells.
• Lymphoma: Cancer that begins in the immune cells that fight infections, called lymphocytes.
• Multiple myeloma: Cancer that forms in your plasma cells, or white blood cells in the bone marrow.
• Sickle cell disease: A group of disorders that causes your red blood cells to break down. 

Treatments we offer

Cellular therapies involve transplanting cells to repair or replace damaged ones. We offer a variety of cell therapies, including:

• Autologous stem cell transplant: We use stem cells from your own blood or bone marrow to rebuild new blood cells. We often use this treatment along with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or both.
• Allogenic stem cell transplant: This type of transplant uses stem cells from a blood or bone marrow donor. These stem cells build a new immune system to more effectively fight cancer.
• CAR T-cell therapy: CAR T cells are immune cells that have been genetically altered to attack cancer cells. CAR T-cell therapy treats adults with some types of lymphoma and children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
• Cord blood transplant: This treatment harvests stem cells from a donated umbilical cord. Cord blood transplants can be particularly beneficial if you don't have a relative who is a match for bone marrow donation.
• Gene therapy: We use gene therapy to treat disorders like sickle cell disease and adrenal diseases. In gene therapy, we treat specific genes and then return them to your body via an autologous stem cell transplant.
• Reduced-intensity transplant: If you have higher risks of medical complications, we may use a reduced dose of chemotherapy or radiation before performing the transplant.
• Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocyte (TIL) therapy: TIL therapy is a new treatment for melanoma (a type of skin cancer) that has spread (metastasized). It’s a combination of immunotherapy and cellular therapy. In TIL therapy, we use immune cells (lymphocytes) from your own body to help you fight melanoma. These immune cells find and attack cancer cells.

Our expert team

Our dedicated specialists are leaders in clinical care and stem cell transplant research. Since we performed one of the world's first bone marrow transplants in 1968, we have been a top destination for cancer treatment. Our team approach incorporates multiple specialists who have the expertise to perform lifesaving bone marrow transplants for adults and children.

Contact us

Call 310-206-6909(Link opens phone app) to request an appointment with the Blood and Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapies Program at UCLA Health.

For the Pediatric Blood and Bone Marrow Transplant & Cellular Therapies Program, please call 310-825-6708(Link opens phone app) to request an appointment.