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

The UCSF Hematology, Blood and Marrow Transplant, and Cellular Therapy (HBC) Program is dedicated to providing the most advanced treatment options with care and compassion. Our acclaimed program draws patients from throughout the United States and abroad who seek exceptional and innovative treatment from providers specializing in blood disorders and cancers.

UCSF is also home to a robust research program for hematology, BMT and CAR T-cells. Patients may have the option to participate in clinical trials, including studies of cutting-edge immunotherapy treatments, such as tumor vaccines and CAR T-cell therapy.

CAR T-Cell Therapy

Our clinical and research teams are internationally renowned for their pioneering work in cell-based immunotherapy for cancer. UCSF gained a unique place in the history of cancer immunotherapy when UCSF-affiliated physicians and scientists initially developed and tested the first FDA-approved checkpoint inhibitor ipilimumab (Yervoy) in patients in 2011. We continue to work at the forefront of the field and are actively involved in CAR (chimeric antigen receptor) T-cell treatment and research.

FDA-approved CAR T-cell therapy uses a patient’s immune system to fight certain cancers. The therapy is a one-time treatment used when those cancers have resisted all other therapeutic options or have recurred more than once

CAR T-cell therapy has resulted in long-term remissions for many patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and mantle cell lymphoma. Research is ongoing to evaluate it as a treatment for other blood cancers, including multiple myeloma, and solid tumors of the breast, prostate, brain, lungs and other organs.

Comprehensive Cancer Center

As part of the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, we offer our cancer patients access to many services, including support groups, exercise and mindfulness classes, psychosocial support, symptom management and much more. 

Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy

Our program is a member of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, a consortium made up of 10 of the world’s leading cancer centers. Its mission is to turn cancer into a curable disease by accelerating the development of breakthrough immune therapies.