Hematology, Blood & Marrow Transplant, and Cellular Therapy (HBC)

Our areas of expertise in blood cancers and other blood disorders

UCSF Health is home to a diverse and growing team of blood disorder specialists. The scope of our program means we have doctors with in-depth expertise in leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, anemias, and bleeding and clotting disorders. They offer highly specialized care at every stage, from diagnosis through treatment and beyond.

We also offer programs dedicated to specific diseases, including hemophilia treatment and cutaneous lymphoma. Additionally, our specialists have experience managing blood diseases and immune disorders that affect blood cells, such as:

• Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH)

• HIV-associated lymphoma

• Lupus

• Multiple sclerosis (MS)

Advanced diagnostics and second opinions for blood disorders

Patients and physicians throughout the country turn to UCSF Health for our ability to provide accurate and timely diagnoses for blood disorders. Our radiologists and pathologists, who evaluate imaging scans and tissue samples, have specialized expertise in blood and bone marrow diseases. Additionally, we use sophisticated genomic testing and molecular imaging to evaluate and stage blood cancers. These leading-edge techniques allow us to personalize your treatment strategy and better assess the effectiveness of treatment.

Our treatments for blood cancers and other blood disorders

Experts in our HBC program draw on many different treatment options to individualize your care plan. You may receive medication, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or blood transfusions, or a combination of these therapies, depending on your specific needs. We also specialize in advanced treatments for blood cancers that haven't responded to standard treatments or have returned after treatment. These may include cellular therapies, such as stem cell transplantation or CAR T-cell therapy.

Blood and bone marrow transplantation

For decades, UCSF Health has pioneered advances in stem cell transplantation. Stem cell transplantation (also called bone marrow transplantation) replaces damaged blood stem cells or bone marrow cells with healthy cells.

The goal is to stimulate your bone marrow to make new blood cells. Blood stem cells can develop into all types of blood cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Most people have chemotherapy and radiation therapy before their transplant to destroy cancer cells and help new stem cells grow.

We offer a range of transplant approaches, including:

• Allogeneic transplant, using stem cells from a donor

• Autologous transplant, using your own stem cells

• Non-myeloablative (reduced-intensity) transplant, using a lower dose of chemotherapy and no radiation (an option for people who are older or aren't healthy enough for a standard transplant)

CAR T-cell therapy and immunotherapies for blood cancer

Immunotherapies are drugs that harness your body's immune system to fight cancer. UCSF Health is globally recognized for our groundbreaking work in cell-based immunotherapy. Our researchers and physicians developed the first FDA-approved checkpoint inhibitor more than a decade ago — a type of immunotherapy now used worldwide.

We continue to lead the field by actively engaging in CAR T-cell treatment and research. CAR T-cell therapy collects immune cells from your body and genetically modifies them in a lab. The new cells are reintroduced into your body, where they can identify and attack cancer cells. CAR T-cell therapy may benefit people with certain types of leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma.

UCSF Health researchers are actively investigating new uses for CAR T-cell therapy, as well as other emerging treatments that directly target cancer cells.