The University of Utah Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program at Huntsman Cancer Institute and Primary Children's Hospital provides comprehensive, compassionate, state-of-the-art care for patients with these types of cancers:
- Blood, including leukemia
- Bone marrow
- Lymph node, including lymphoma
Our experts treat adults and children with cancer, as well as non-cancerous conditions of the blood such as low blood counts and myeloproliferative disorders.
This program is a partnership between the University of Utah’s Huntsman Cancer Institute and Intermountain Healthcare’s Primary Children’s Hospital. We are recognized by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapies (FACT), which means we meet the most comprehensive standards in the field, verified by peer-reviewed inspections.
Meet Our Team
Our specialists provide outstanding care for every stem cell transplant patient.
The team includes these and other members:
- Physicians
- Nurses
- Medical assistants
- Scheduling coordinators
- Social workers
- Physical and occupational therapists
Types of Blood & Marrow Transplant
Bone marrow/blood stem cell transplant is a procedure to replace blood-forming stem cells.
Stem cell transplant is a procedure to replace cells that produce blood. The patient receives high doses of chemotherapy, radiation, or both, to kill cancer cells and healthy cells in the bone marrow where blood is formed. The patient then receives new blood-forming stem cells through an IV. Healthy blood cells develop from the transplanted stem cells.
A stem cell transplant gives a patient healthy blood stem cells collected from the patient or a donor. The stem cells may be collected from blood or from bone marrow. The transplant replaces cancer cells in the patient’s bone marrow.
Here are some other names for stem cell transplant:
- Peripheral blood stem cell transplant
- Hematopoietic cell transplant
These are the two main types of bone marrow transplants:
Autologous
The transplant team collects and saves the patient’s own healthy stem cells. After treatment, the patient gets the healthy stem cells back.
Allogeneic
The patient gets stem cells from a donor. The donor can be a family member, friend, or stranger. The donor’s blood must match the patient’s blood.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is bone marrow and what is a bone marrow transplant?
Bone marrow is a spongy tissue inside your bones that makes blood cells. A bone marrow transplant is a procedure to replace the blood-forming cells (stem cells). First, the patient receives chemotherapy, radiation, or both, to kill cancer cells and healthy cells in the bone marrow. Then, the patient receives new stem cells through an IV. The new stem cells make healthy blood cells.
What is the difference between a bone marrow transplant and stem cell transplant?
The only difference between a bone marrow transplant and a stem cell transplant is where the transplanted stem cells come from. Stem cells form in bone marrow, but some of those cells go into the blood stream. If the stem cells for the transplant come from bone marrow, the treatment is called a bone marrow transplant. If the stem cells come from the bloodstream, the treatment is called a peripheral blood stem cell transplant, or stem cell transplant for short.
Is a bone marrow transplant the best treatment option for me?
This depends on your disease and on what you want. Your doctor can guide you, but you make the final decision. Talk through all treatment options with your doctor to figure out what is best for you. Write down questions and concerns about the bone marrow transplant and bring a list to the next doctor’s appointment. Here is a list of questions to ask your doctor if you or a family member are thinking about this treatment.
How long will I need to stay in the hospital after I receive a bone marrow transplant?
Patients stay at the hospital anywhere from 30–100 days after they receive their transplant. The recovery time differs, depending on these things:
- The type of transplant
- How the body reacts to the transplant
- Whether any other illnesses happen after the transplant
Before treatment, the patient’s doctor can give an idea of how long the stay may be. But that may change after the transplant.
I have a family member who needs a bone marrow transplant. How can I find out if I am a match?
You will need to be tested to see if you are a match. Talk with your family member and their doctor about getting tested.
Even if you don’t have a family member who needs a bone marrow transplant, you can sign up to be a potential donor. Huntsman Cancer Institute uses the NMDP registry, formerly known as the Be The Match registry, to find donors for patients who need a bone marrow transplant.
