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Please call the program for further information
(201) 996-5600
(201) 996-0521 (Fax)

Personnel

Joel A. Brochstein, M.D. (Director): (201) 996-5601
Alfred P. Gillio, M.D.: (201) 996-5645
Jeanette Haugh, R.N. (Nurse Clinician): (201) 996-5602
Rachel Citrin (Administrative Coordinator): (201) 996-5600
Barbara Adler Brecher (Unrelated Donor Search Coordinator):(201) 996-5241
Mary Fleming, M.S.W. (Social Work): (201) 996-5623
Tony Freni, M.S., A.D.T.R. (Child-life / Creative Arts Therapy): (201) 996-5629

The pediatric stem cell transplant program at Hackensack University Medical Center, (HUMC) established in 1990, is a national leader in the field of allogeneic and autologous stem cell transplantation. It is one of the largest programs in the New York metropolitan region and

the only pediatric transplant program in New Jersey. In 1997, HUMC's Stem Cell Transplant Program received certification by the Foundation for Accreditation of Hematopoietic Cell Therapy (F.A.H.C.T).

Both transplant physicians have been exclusively involved in the clinical and laboratory aspects of pediatric stem cell transplantation for over 15 years and are recognized authorities in the field.

Since the program is recognized by both the Pediatric Oncology Group and the Children's Cancer Group, patients from either POG- or CCG-affiliated institutions may undergo transplantation according to their respective cooperative group protocols. In addition, the program participates in selected national trials coordinated by the Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Consortium.

Participating Member of:

Pediatric Oncology Group
Children's Cancer Group
Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Consortium
National Marrow Donor Program
American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation
International Society of Hematopoietic Cell Therapy

Transplantation Types Offered:

Autologous

- Marrow-derived stem cells
- Peripheral blood stem cells

Allogeneic

- HLA-identical or single antigen-mismatched related donors
- Histocompatible unrelated donors
- Volunteer marrow donors (NMDP)
- Umbilical cord blood

Current Transplantation Protocols

A. Allogeneic

1. Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation from histocompatibility (fully matched or single antigen-mismatched) related donors for patients with hematologic malignancies.

Eligibility:

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia in second or subsequent remission
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (high-risk) in first remission
Acute myelogenous leukemia in first or subsequent remission
Chronic myelogenous leukemia in chronic phase
Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JCML)
Myelodysplastic syndrome

2. Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation from histocompatible donors for patients with congenital hematologic and / or immune disorders.

Eligibility:

Thalassemia major
Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome
Fanconi anemia
Severe combined immunodeficiency
Severe T-cell immunodeficiency
Inborn errors of metabolism

3. Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation from histocompatible related donors for patients with severe aplastic anemia.

4. Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation from histocompatible related donors for selected patients with sickle cell anemia.

Eligibility:

Hgb SS-related dysfunction

- Neurological
- Pulmonary
- Renal

Repeated painful crises

5. Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation from histocompatible related donors for patients with thalassemia (Cooley's Anemia).

6. Marrow transplantation from histocompatible unrelated volunteer donors for patients with hematologic malignancies, severe aplastic anemia or congenital lethal disorders of the lymphohematopoietic system.

7. Unrelated umbilical cord blood transplantation for patients with hematologic malignancies, severe aplastic anemia or congenital lethal disorders of the lymphohematopoietic system.

8. Stem cell transplantation (related or unrelated donor) for patients with Fanconi anemia.

B. Autologous

The majority of pediatric patients undergoing high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell support receive stem cells collected from the blood stream through an outpatient procedure, called leukapheresis. When reinfused into the patient, stem cells collected in this manner generally lead to much more rapid normalization of the blood counts than when marrow-derived stem cells are utilized. Consequently, the period of hospitalization for peripheral blood stem cell recipients is significantly shorter and, in some cases, an "outpatient transplant" may be offered. This involves hospitalization for only the days on which the preparative chemotherapy is administered, then discharge to an off-site facility and daily monitoring in the outpatient department until the blood counts have returned towards normal (approximately 10-14 days.)

1. Autologous peripheral blood (or marrow) stem cell transplantation for pediatricpatients with high-risk malignant solid tumors.

2. Eligibility:

Advanced stage neuroblastoma
Rhabdomyosarcoma and other soft tissue sarcomas
Ewing sarcoma
Germ cell tumor

2. Autologous peripheral blood (or marrow) stem cell transplantation for pediatric patients with recurrent Wilms' tumor.

3. Autologous peripheral blood (or marrow) stem cell transplantation for selected pediatric patients with malignant brain tumors.

4. Autologous peripheral blood (or marrow) stem cell transplantation for patients with recurrent Hodgkin's disease or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.