Cancer Center

Bone Marrow + Stem Cell Transplant Program

Transforming Lives One Transplant at a Time

We know how daunting it can be to face complex transplant treatments for cancer or blood disorders. That's why the doctors and nurses of the Tufts Medical Center Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant Program do everything possible to ensure that you or your child has the very best care throughout the course of treatment.

Our compassion is matched only by our expertise. We became Boston's first medical center to perform a bone marrow transplant in the late 1950s and since have helped more than 1,300 patients find new hope with this life-saving procedure.

The Tufts MC program is fully accredited to perform transplants in adults and children using bone marrow, peripheral blood stem cells ) PBSCs) and umbilical cord blood from the following sources:

  • You (autologous transplant)
  • A family member or an unrelated donor who is a match for you (allogeneic transplant)
  • A family member who is a half-match to you (haplo-identical allogeneic transplant)

The Tufts MC program is excited to offer treatment with the state-of-the-art in therapeutic cell therapy in the form of genetically-engineered Chimeric Antigen Receptor modified T cells (CAR-T) for patient with relapsed or refractory

  • Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (age less than 26 years old)
  • Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma (age 18 and older)

Patients with other diagnoses including multiple myeloma may qualify for participation in available clinical trials of CAR-T therapy. 

Who Will My Transplant Team Be?

Our doctors and nurses will be by your side at every stage of your or your child's treatment. Kellie Sprague, MD leads our nationally recognized team, which includes physicians from across Tufts MC working together to deliver personalized care.

Our program continually sets the standards for care in transplant treatment:

  • We helped pioneer "mini-transplants" for patients who could not tolerate "full" transplants.
  • We were among the first programs in Boston to be nationally certified by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy as a transplant and collection center for both adult and pediatric bone marrow transplants.
  • The Cancer Center at Tufts Medical Center has further accreditations from the American College of Surgeons and the Joint Commission for Hospital Accreditation. Furthermore, the National Marrow Donor Program recognizes us for successfully treating the highest-risk patients.
  • We are a transplant center for ECOG (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group) and an affiliate of the BMT-CTN (Bone Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network).

These accreditations represent much more than just recognition from our peers — they demonstrate our unwavering commitment to providing the very best in patient care. To maintain our accreditations, we adhere to strict quality standards, such as taking a comprehensive team approach to care and offering access to promising new treatment options.

Our Cancer Center physicians are active members of the research community, and many of our patients participate in potentially lifesaving clinical trials at Tufts MC and nationwide.

Special Care for Our Tiniest Transplant Patients

The Pediatric Stem Cell Transplant Program of Tufts Medical Center at Tufts Medical Center has been performing bone marrow transplants in children since 1998.

Our pediatric team consists of five dedicated physicians and 11 full-time pediatric transplant nurses. Some of our nurses have over 20 years' experience helping patients and families through cancer treatments. Working in close collaboration with doctors on our adult transplant team, the pediatric team provides care for your child that is second to none.

A History of Innovation for Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplants

Compassionate, cutting-edge care is deeply rooted in our history. Physician William Dameshek, MD established the Blood Research Laboratory in 1939 at what is now Tufts MC. In the late 1950s, he was one of the first physicians to pioneer bone marrow transplantation for treating blood disorders.

Dr. Dameshek also co-founded the American Society of Hematology and was the first editor of the society's journal, Blood. During his 26 years at Tufts MC, he trained over 100 hematologists and wrote over 350 articles advancing the treatment of blood-borne cancers. His tradition of excellence in research, education and patient care lives on to this day.

Your Home Away from Home

With comfortable furnishings, flat-screen TVs and DVD players, the Neely Stem Cell Therapy and Collection Center provides a warm, welcoming space for transplant patients and donors. During treatments, you and your family can stay in the nearby Neely House, located within the hospital campus. The residence includes 16 apartments along with two common kitchens and lounge areas so families can continue living as families. Since opening in 1997, the Neely House has been a home away from home for more than 4,000 families coping with cancer.

In conjunction with Tufts Medical Center, the Neely Stem Cell Therapy and Collection Center also features a beautiful, family-friendly unit dedicated to the care of pediatric patients. The entire unit is hepa-filtered, which means kids can walk around freely without being confined to their rooms. Just down the hall, we have a living area for parents with kitchen and laundry facilities so you can be close to your child around the clock.

Jason Law, MD

Jason Law, MD

Accepting New Patients

Virtual Appointments Available

Title(s): Chief, Pediatric Hematology Oncology; Site Principal Investigator, Children’s Oncology Group and Neuroblastoma Medulloblastoma Translational Research Consortium Trials; Director, Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplantation; Assistant Professor, Tufts University School of Medicine
Department(s): Pediatrics
Appt. Phone: 617-636-5535
Fax #: 617-636-7738

Pediatric hematology, oncology, bone marrow transplant

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Raymond L. Comenzo, MD

Raymond L. Comenzo, MD

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Accepting New Patients

Virtual Appointments Available

Title(s): Director, Transfusion Services; Director, John C. Davis Myeloma and Amyloid Program; Professor, Tufts University School of Medicine
Department(s): Medicine, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Hematology/Oncology
Appt. Phone: 617-636-6454
Fax #: 617-636-3175

Myeloma, amyloidosis, stem cell transplant, transfusion medicine

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Andreas K. Klein, MD

Andreas K. Klein, MD

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Accepting New Patients

Virtual Appointments Available

Title(s): Associate Chief, Division of Hematology Oncology; Director, Hematologic Malignancies Program; Director, Bone Marrow and Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Program; Regulatory Affairs Director, CTSI; Associate Professor, Tufts University School of Medicine
Department(s): Medicine, Hematology/Oncology
Appt. Phone: 617-636-6227
Fax #: 617-636-8538

Lymphoma, myeloma, bone marrow transplantation (BMT), immune reconstitution after BMT

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Hrvoje Melinscak, MD

Hrvoje Melinscak, MD

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Accepting New Patients

Title(s): Hematologist/Oncologist
Department(s): Medicine, Hematology/Oncology
Appt. Phone: 617-636-6227
Fax #: 617-636-7060

Hematology, Oncology

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Cathy G. Rosenfield, MD

Cathy G. Rosenfield, MD

Accepting New Patients

Virtual Appointments Available

Title(s): Co-Director, Tufts University School of Medicine Hematology Course; Associate Clinical Professor, Tufts University School of Medicine
Department(s): Pediatrics
Appt. Phone: 617-636-5535
Fax #: 617-636-7738

Hemophilia and other bleeding disorders, prothrombotic disorders, sickle cell and other hemoglobinopathies, general hematology

View Full Profile for Cathy G. Rosenfield, MD