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Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program

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The Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa has been performing stem cell transplants since 1980. The program has earned reaccreditation from the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT), putting Iowa's Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program on a select list of institutions that meet the most rigorous standards in every aspect of stem cell therapy, including clinical care, donor management, cell collection, processing, storage, transportation, administration, and cell release.

A bone marrow transplant is a procedure to replace damaged or destroyed bone marrow with healthy bone marrow stem cells. Bone marrow is the soft, fatty tissue inside your bones. Stem cells are immature cells in the bone marrow that give rise to all of your blood cells.

Alternative Names

There are several alternative names for a blood and marrow transplant, including:

  • Bone marrow transplant
  • Stem cell transplant
  • Hematopoietic stem cell transplant
  • Reduced intensity, nonmyeloablative transplant
  • Mini transplant
  • Allogenic bone marrow transplant
  • Autologous bone marrow transplant
  • Umbilical cord blood transplant

Types of Bone Marrow Transplants

Our experienced team has provided over 4,000 stem cell transplants—adult,pediatric, allogeneic and autologous—since 1980. Learn more about why the UI Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program is your best choice for care.

There are three kinds of bone marrow transplants:

Autologous Bone Marrow Transplant

The term auto means self. Stem cells are removed from you before you receive high-dose chemotherapy or radiation treatment. The stem cells are stored in a freezer (cryopreservation). After high-dose chemotherapy or radiation treatments, your stem cells are put back in your body to make (regenerate) normal blood cells. This is called a rescue transplant.

Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplant

The term allo means other. Stem cells are removed from another person, called a donor. Most times, the donor's genes must at least partly match your genes. Special blood tests are done to see if a donor is a good match for you. A brother or sister is most likely to be a good match. Sometimes parents, children, and other relatives are good matches. Donors who are not related to you may be found through national bone marrow registries.

Umbilical Cord Blood Transplant

This is a type of allogeneic transplant. Stem cells are removed from a newborn baby's umbilical cord right after birth. The stem cells are frozen and stored until they are needed for a transplant. Umbilical cord blood cells are very immature so there is less of a need for matching. But blood counts take longer to recover.

Types of Bone Marrow Treatments

Before the transplant, chemotherapy, radiation, or both may be given. This may be done in two ways:

Ablative (Myeloablative) Treatment

High-dose chemotherapy, radiation, or both are given to kill any cancer cells. This also kills all healthy bone marrow that remains, and allows new stem cells to grow in the bone marrow.

Reduced Intensity Treatment (Mini Transplant)

Patients receive lower doses of chemotherapy and radiation before a transplant. This allows older patients, and those with other health problems to have a transplant.

A stem cell transplant is done after chemotherapy and radiation is complete. The stem cells are delivered into your bloodstream usually through a tube called a central venous catheter. The process is similar to getting a blood transfusion. The stem cells travel through the blood into the bone marrow. Most times, no surgery is needed.

Our Providers Use Stem Cell Transplant as Treatment for Several Disease Types:

Disease Type of Transplant
Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) ALLO or AUTO
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) ALLO or AUTO
Myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative diseases (MDS/MPN) ALLO
Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) ALLO
Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) ALLO
Multiple myeloma/plasma cell disorder (PCD) AUTO
Solid tumors (ST) (Specific tumors listed below) AUTO
Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) ALLO
Severe aplastic anemia (SAA) ALLO
Histiocytic disorders (HD) ALLO or AUTO
Disorders of immune system (including auto-immune disorders) ALLO or AUTO

Solid Tumors Treated

Adult Solid Tumors

  • Ewing family tumors of bone, including PNET (a type of sarcoma, or bone and soft tissue cancer)
  • Testicular cancer, germ cell tumor, extragonadal (rare tumors found in the ovaries or testes)
  • Sarcomas

Pediatric Solid Tumors

  • Central nervous system tumor, including CNS PNET, Pinealoblastoma
  • CNS PNET primitive neuroectodermal tumor
  • Esthesioneuroblastoma (a rare cancer in the nasal cavity)
  • Ewing family tumors of bone, including PNET (a type of sarcoma, or bone and soft tissue cancer)
  • Medulloblastoma (a brain tumor)
  • Neuroblastoma (a cancer in the nerve cells)
  • Other, specify ATYPICAL TERATOID/RHABDOID TUMOR (a rare tumor of the central nervous system)
  • Wilm Tumor (a rare kidney tumor)

Patient Eligibility

Most patients receiving a stem cell transplant are in their fifties and sixties. Sometimes, they are a little older. Transplantation is a very intensive therapy, and we need to have some reassurance that patients have a good chance of surviving and will not succumb to such intensive therapy. We try to maximize success and minimize the risk of patients actually having their life shortened by a stem cell transplant.

To assess the fitness of a patient to receive a transplant, we test:

  • Heart function (Echocardiogram and EKG)
  • Lung function (pulmonary function tests and arterial blood gases)
  • Liver function (blood work)
  • Kidney function (blood work)

In addition, we will ensure that there is no active infection by doing blood work and imaging tests such as CT chest, CT sinuses and/or PET-CT scan. These tests are arranged prior to the first clinic visit so that the results can be reviewed and decisions can be made about treatment options during the visit with the specialist.

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    • Blood and Marrow Transplant FAQs
    • Blood and Marrow Transplant Resources
    • Bone Marrow Transplant Quality and Outcomes
    • Care Team
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    • Contact Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program
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    • University of Iowa Blood and Marrow Transplant Database©
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Our Care Team

Umar Farooq, MD portrait

Umar
Farooq
MD

  • Cancer
4.77 out of 5 (783 ratings)
MM

Margarida
Magalhaes-Silverman
MD

  • Cancer
4.84 out of 5 (759 ratings)
Christopher Strouse, MD portrait

Christopher
Strouse
MD

  • Cancer
  • Hematology
4.70 out of 5 (575 ratings)
Michael H. Tomasson, MD portrait

Michael H.
Tomasson
MD

  • Cancer
  • Hematology
4.81 out of 5 (148 ratings)

Annette J. Schlueter, MD, PhD portrait

Annette J.
Schlueter
MD, PhD

  • Pathology

Sarah C. Lee, PA-C portrait

Sarah C.
Lee
PA-C

  • Cancer

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Susan
Joy
ARNP

Lauren M. Ringe, ARNP, DNP portrait

Lauren M.
Ringe
ARNP, DNP

  • Cancer
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Emily
Struble
ARNP, DNP

  • Cancer
Allyson Wolcott, ARNP portrait

Allyson
Wolcott
ARNP

  • Cancer

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Karen
Ajram
PA-C

  • Cancer
Anthony E. Brenneman, PA-C, MSW portrait

Anthony E.
Brenneman
PA-C, MSW

Georgina Glass, PA-C portrait

Georgina
Glass
PA-C

  • Cancer
4.65 out of 5 (65 ratings)

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Fajardo
PharmD, BCACP

SM

Stephanie
Malenfant
PharmD, RPh, BCOP, MPH

  • Pharmacy

  • Beth Alden, MT(ASCP)
  • Julie Aschenbrenner, RN, BSN, OCN, CHTC
  • Denise Baird, MT(ASCP), CQA(ASQ)
  • Lisa Cantwell
  • Rhonda Evans, MSN, RN, BMTCN, OCN
  • Kerri Fitch
  • Tammy Hatland
  • Shannon Hunger, RN, BSN
  • Lizbeth Kaufman, RN, OCN, CHTC
  • Nghi Luu
  • Paula Maddy, RN
  • James McCollough
  • Paula McCue, RN, MA, OCN
  • Brenda Miller, RN
  • Sheila Ouverson, MPA
  • Colleen Reardon, MBA, CHTC
  • Allyson Schultz
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  • Courtney Vassiliades
Not sure which Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program provider is right for you?
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Educational Resources

Frequently asked questions about CAR T-cell therapy

Support Groups

American Cancer Society Resource Center - Burlington

Blood and Marrow Transplant Caregiver Support Group - Des Moines

For caregivers, this group will be a blend of open discussion, as well as educational information to help with practical advice and guidance from both health-care professionals and other caregivers themselves.

Blood and Marrow Transplant Caregiver Support Group - Iowa City

For caregivers, this group will be a blend of open discussion, as well as educational information to help with practical advice and guidance from both health-care professionals and other caregivers themselves.

Blood Cancer Family Support Group - Des Moines

For adult patients with leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, myeloma, or myelodysplastic syndromes and their family and friends

Blood Cancer Support Group - Iowa City

This gathering offers support and open discussion around a diagnosis of leukemia, Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma or multiple myeloma for patients, family members, friends and survivors.

Affiliated with Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

Cleaning for a Reason - Keokuk

Provides free house cleaning once per month for four months during the time the woman is in treatment, and helps women who are going through cancer treatment

Community Hospital Outreach Cancer Support Group - Fort Madison

Emotions Anonymous - Burlington

Anyone with emotional difficulty is invited to participate in this 12-step program.

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Telephone Support Group

Visit their website.

Multiple Myeloma Support Group of Eastern Iowa

Offered by UI Health Care's Blood and Marrrow Transplant Program for patients and caregivers.

National Bone Marrow Transplant Online Support Group

“Come join us for a few minutes or a couple hours; we have big shoulders and interesting insight to share with you. Our mission is to uphold those who suffer the effects of illness before, during, and after a bone marrow transplant, to celebrate the miracles that BMT has given in the lives of those of us who are now well, and to offer encouragement and caring honesty to individuals and families.”

The chat room is open and hosted by one of eight people who have experienced a bone marrow transplant (BMT) personally or have had a family member as a patient. 

What's on Your Mind? - Des Moines

A group or individual counseling program for people with cancer and/or their families. Patients and family members are welcome to come to group counseling or may set up individual appointments.

Call for more information on meeting dates and locations.

200 Hawkins Drive
Iowa City, IA 52242
United States

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