Stem Cell Transplants for Children

The Hematopoietic (Stem) Cell Transplant Program at
Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center is one of the
largest and most experienced pediatric stem cell transplant programs in the
world. Our integrated pediatric hematology/oncology program through Dana-Farber
Cancer Institute and Boston
Children's Hospital provides — in one specialized program — all the
services of both a leading cancer center and leading pediatric hospital.
What is a stem cell
transplant?
A pediatric hematopoietic cell transplant, also called a
stem cell transplant or bone marrow transplant, is the infusion of healthy stem
cells into the body to stimulate new bone marrow growth. Stem cells are vital
to a person's ability to fight infection. Stem cell transplants are performed
on children whose stem cells have been damaged by disease or invasive
treatments for cancer such as chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy.
A stem cell transplant is used to treat many types of
conditions affecting children and young adults. While traditionally used to
treat cancers and blood disorders, hematopoietic cell transplants are
increasingly being used to treat a growing
range of conditions, including metabolic diseases, genetic
immunodeficiencies, and other disorders.
Our expertise
The Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Hematopoietic (Stem) Cell
Transplant Program performs more than 100 stem cell transplants each year for
children and young adults with many types of cancer and other conditions and has
performed nearly 1500 stem cell transplants to date - making us one of the
largest and most experienced pediatric stem cell transplant programs in the
world. Our pediatric
stem cell transplant team includes some of the world's most
experienced and knowledgeable pediatric stem cell transplant doctors and
scientists, as well as nationally recognized pediatric specialists. We see to
it that your child receives the highest level of care before, during, and after
transplant to ensure the best results.
We regularly participate in national outcomes reporting and
have played a major role in developing outcomes metrics and standards, as well
as analyzing patient outcomes data. Capturing this data ensures that we provide
the highest standard of care. Moreover, our transplant outcomes surpass
national averages.
Learn more about how stem
cell transplants are used to treat blood disorders on the Boston Children’s Hospital website.
Learn more about how stem
cell transplants are used to treat cancer on the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute website.