The Cellular Therapy Program started in 1989 and became the first community bone marrow transplant program accredited by the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) to participate in national clinical trials. In August of 1999, the BMT Program was the 11th program in the nation to receive the highly sought after accreditation by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT), which sets the standards for transplant programs. The BMT Program has remained accredited to date. The National Marrow Donor Program has also certified the program as a regional apheresis center.
Bone marrow transplantation and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation are effective alternatives for treating many types of cancer. Stem cell transplantation has become the primary treatment process offered to a select group of patients with lymphoma, leukemia and multiple myeloma.
A number of anemias and immune system disorders may be treated with transplantation as well. Bone marrow manufactures the body’s blood cells, which include red cells, white cells and platelets. In the transplantation process the stem cells are collected by apheresis from the patient (autologous), from a sibling (allogeneic), or from a matched unrelated donor from the National Bone Marrow Registry. The stem cells are then stored in a liquid nitrogen freezer. The diseased bone marrow or solid tumor is then treated with high doses of chemotherapy and/or radiation. After a period of rest, the stem cells (healthy bone marrow) are re-infused into the patient, rescuing the patient’s blood system, thus re-establishing healthy bone marrow and the immune system.
The type of transplant selected for each CCK patient will depend on the disease being treated and other factors determined by the transplant oncologist.
The Cellular Therapy Center of Kansas (the BMT Program) is a cooperative effort of the Cancer Center of Kansas (CCK), Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Wichita and the American Red Cross. CCK provides the highest quality care through depth in highly trained oncologists, all of whom are board certified in Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology. The following is a list of the CCK transplant oncologists that are a part of this team:
Cellular Therapy Center of Kansas previously knows as Blood and Marrow Transplant Center of Kansas has been certified by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT) in 1999, 2004, 2011, 2014, and 2017.
