Bone marrow and stem cell transplant physicians are doctors that treat particular forms of cancer. Bone marrow transplants replace bone marrow cells that have been damaged by disease, such as leukemia or genetic disorders of the blood. In a successful transplant, the new bone marrow migrates to the cavities of the large bones, engrafts and begins producing normal blood cells.
FOR AN APPOINTMENT, REFERRING PHYSICIANS CALL 314-454-8304
Patients please read Resources for Patients
Regional/National Referrals
We treat many patients from outside the region and outside the United States. For North American referrals, physicians may call the Barnes-Jewish Hospital Doctors Access Line at
800-252-DOCS (3627).
Patients in the continental United States may refer to Family and Guest Services for assistance with lodging.
International Referrals
Physicians and patients from countries outside of the United States may view a complete list of our Centers of Excellence available for International Healthcare Referrals or physicians may contact us by email, with a short summary of the patient's diagnosis and your initial treatment plan. We will forward this summary to the right department for review and follow-up. Although English is preferred, you may email in your own language.
What is Bone Marrow Transplantation?
There are three kinds of transplants: autologous, allogeneic, and syngeneic.
Autologous transplants involve the replacement of cancerous cells with healthy cells from the patient after chemotherapy and possibly radiation treatment.
In allogeneic transplants, the patient receives an infusion of healthy cells from a genetically compatible donor.
A syngeneic transplant is much like an allogeneic transplant, with the cells coming from a twin brother or sister. This care is always coordinated with medical oncologists and radiation oncologists, in consultation with the primary care physician.
Transplantation can be a successful treatment for a variety of cancers, including:
- Acute and chronic leukemia
- Lymphoma
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Hodgkin disease
- Multiple myeloma
- Solid tumors, including breast cancer, ovarian cancer and germ cell tumors
- Some noncancerous blood diseases
- Aplastic anemia, preleukemia and other marrow failure states
- Rare interited and acquired disorders, such as thalassemia, amyloidosis and autoimmune diseases
When the procedure is called stem cell transplantation, the hematopoietic stem cells are collected from the blood. If the procedure is called bone marrow transplantation, the hematopoietic stem cells are collected from the bone. A transplant can be carried out by using a patient's own hematopoietic stem cells (autologous transplant) or a donor's hematopoietic stem cells (allogeneic transplant).
The Bone Marrow Transplant Program's survival rates are comparable to other leading centers in the world, and each new discovery in our research area carries with it the promise of enhancing treatment and ultimately saving lives.
Besides the clinical and research physicians in the section of bone-marrow transplantation, a whole BMT Team of specialists in pheresis (stem cell collection and transfusion medicine), bone marrow transplant and oncology nursing, pharmacy, nutrition, physical therapy, social work, pastoral care, data management and financial planning treat patients with skill, care and understanding.
Lastly, research and clinical trials are important assets of Washington University bone marrow transplant specialists, which are a benefit to our patients.