Hematology Oncology Transplant Services

Stem Cell, Blood and Marrow Transplant Program

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has become an alternative approach in the treatment of malignant diseases for many patients. For some diseases, the five-year survival rate surpasses that of chemotherapy alone. The list of diseases for which hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has been considered grows almost daily. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation allows administration of cytoreductive therapy with curative intent, without regard for the lethal effects to the marrow of this treatment regimen. The sources of stem cells are bone marrow, peripheral blood stem cells mobilized by growth factors or chemotherapy and cord blood.

The Children's Hospital hematopoietic stem cell transplant program began in January 1989. From January 1989 to December 2014, 337 transplants were performed. Of those performed, 220 were allogeneic and 117 were autologous. By far, the most common conditions for which HSCT has been carried out are hematologic malignancies, e.g., acute leukemia.

Diseases such as leukemia are treated here at Children's Hospital New Orleans with the same protocols as those of the 240 Children's Oncology Group (COG) institutions (e.g. St. Jude, MD Anderson, Johns Hopkins) adopted throughout the nation. COG has recognized Children's Hospital as the only hematopoietic stem cell transplant site in Louisiana for COG protocol studies.

A multidisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, social workers, nutritionists, pharmacists, physical therapists, psychologists and blood bank personnel is available, with experience and commitment to the clinical practice and basic science of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

For more information regarding the hematopoietic stem cell transplant center at Children's Hospital, please contact the Hematology/Oncology office at 504.896.9740.

Stem cell accreditations

In July 2000, Children's Hospital became accredited by the National Marrow Donor Program® (NMDP) as a transplant center. Through the NMDP, Children's Hospital has access to the largest worldwide registry of hematopoietic stem cell donors. This affiliation provides patients with the best chance of finding a suitable donor for transplantation. Children's Hospital, in collaboration with LSU Health New Orleans, is also an approved COG hematopoietic stem cell transplant center. Our HSCT program is also affiliated with the PBMTC and the BMT- CTN network.