Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) in New York City has the largest and most experienced stem cell transplant (also known as bone marrow transplant, or BMT) program in the area, with over 10,000 transplants performed since its inception. The program offers both autologous transplants, using the patient’s own cells, and allogeneic transplants, using cells from a donor. MSK’s BMT team includes a range of specialists, such as doctors, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and pharmacists, who provide comprehensive care and support to patients undergoing the complex procedure.
In addition to its expertise in BMT, MSK has specialized programs that may not be available at other hospitals, such as a dedicated clinic for treating graft-versus-host disease, a serious complication of donor cell transplants. The center also utilizes cord blood transplants, which use stem cells from the umbilical cords of newborns donated to a cord blood bank, to provide treatment options for patients who do not have a matched donor. MSK’s research efforts are focused on improving the effectiveness of BMTs through the use of targeted therapies and immunotherapies, as well as making these treatments more accessible to all who need them.
MSK’s groundbreaking work in the field of stem cell transplants dates back 50 years when pediatric oncologist Richard O’Reilly, MD, pioneered the development of the first bone marrow transplant for a pediatric patient without a sibling who was a proper match. This breakthrough opened up new possibilities for patients worldwide to find donors outside of their families. As MSK continues to lead in providing innovative BMT treatments, the center also extends its care to regional sites such as MSK Commack, MSK Nassau, MSK Westchester, and the soon-to-be-available MSK Monmouth in New Jersey, as well as its newest location in Brooklyn, Memorial Medical Care, PC, to ensure accessibility for patients who find it difficult to travel into Manhattan.
