Stem Cell Transplantation

Welcome to the Department of Stem Cell Transplantation.

The UKE stem cell program for adults, under the leadership of Professor Dr. Nicolaus Kröger, is since many years one of the largest in Europe. We exceed a high international standard of Quality (JACIE Accreditation) and are world leaders in the field of stem cell transplantation for myelofibrosis, which we also successfully perform in elderly patients (70+). We chair several multicenter European studies on allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

The entire treatment program focuses on the development of more effective strategies in the treatment against leukemia and lymphoma. We employ the latest cellular immunotherapy and gene therapy approaches.

Our areas of clinical focus are 

• allogeneic peripheral blood or bone marrow stem cell transplantation for malignant hematologic diseases either from family donors or foreign donors with particular emphasis on the treatment of leukemia, multiple myeloma, lymphoma, myelodysplasia, and myelofibrosis
• allogeneic blood or bone marrow stem cell protocols for non-malignant diseases such as aplastic anemia or congenital metabolic diseases
• prevention of severe graft-versus-host reactions through the use of antisera and gene therapy protocols
• dose-reduced conditioning protocols (mini-transplants) for patients with multiple myeloma, lymphoma, leukemia, myelodysplasia, or myelofibrosis
• donor lymphocyte protocols (adoptive immunotherapy) for the treatment or prevention of relapses
• vaccination strategies after transplantation to treat minimal residual disease

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation offers the greatest chance of curing leukemia, but it is also the therapy with the highest risk. It is therefore usually used only when there are no other options for a cure or when the chances of cure by allogeneic stem cell transplantation are significantly higher than for other treatment options. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation will only be recommended to you after careful consideration of all possibilities and risks according to the individual course of your disease.

Below are some facts about our clinic:

Each year we have performed over 200 transplants, overall more than 3,500 allogeneic transplants . This makes use one of the largest centers for allogeneic stem cell transplantation in Europe.

To make your stay as pleasant as possible, we offer:

Inpatient:
We offer inpatients 25 beds with and without HEPA filtration on the transplantation ward. All BMT rooms are spatially separated from the rest of the hospital.

Outpatient:
We offer outpatients four examination rooms and four treatment rooms for infusions and blood transfusions.

Our department of transfusion medicine also has a laboratory for stem cell processing and cryopreservation.

Our clinic has a team of highly qualified and specially trained staff: 

• 24-hour care by experienced medical staff; committed internal medicine specialists trained in Germany and the U.S. with specialty training in hematology and internal oncology and with extensive experience in the treatment of patients undergoing autologous or allogeneic blood stem cell transplantation
• well-trained nurses with extensive experience in medical monitoring and care of patients after autologous and allogeneic blood stem cell transplantation
• two transplant coordinators who coordinate medical and social needs, support families and friends of patients, and organize all necessary tests prior to transplantation
• Psychotherapists, music and art therapists, and social workers emotionally and socially support patients and their families, accompanying them through the critical phases of transplantation. Physical therapists support patients with breathing and mobilization exercises

Qualified medical assistants provide professional, safe treatment in the outpatient clinic.

Please direct your treatment request to the UKE International Office.