Department of Bone Marrow Transplants
Department of Bone Marrow Transplants
Bone marrow transplants, have become an integral part of treating certain blood cancers. The goals of a transplant vary depending on the individual patient, but generally include controlling or curing the disease, prolonging life, and improving quality of life. A stem cell transplant can put cancer into remission or cure it.
At the Department of Bone Marrow Transplants (BMT) at Sheba Medical Center, we have performed over 2,000 stem cell transplants. Our team includes a diversity of world-renowned experts, including hematologists, medical oncologists, and radiation oncologists. Treatments are personalized and optimized to address each patient’s unique needs.
Stem cells are immature blood cells located in the bone marrow and blood, and they function to produce the blood cells necessary for survival. Hematological cancers and treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy can damage bone marrow, which affects the stem cells’ ability to produce life-sustaining blood cells. In this situation, a transplant can help by replacing the destroyed bone marrow. Additionally, a stem cell transplant can sometimes help treat the cancer itself, because the donated cells identify and attack cancer cells more efficiently than the person’s immune cells.
To locate a perfect donor match for stem cell transplantation, Sheba uses a state-of-the-art HLA laboratory and our on-site molecular laboratory. If a genetically suitable donor cannot be found, Sheba is a member of the National Marrow Donor Program and may use stem cells from this data bank.

What treatments do we offer?
Our Department of Bone Marrow Transplants is on the leading edge of treatment for leukemia and lymphatic and solid malignant tumors – both in Israel and internationally. We also provide treatments for certain autoimmune disorders.
Autologous stem cell transplantation
This type of bone marrow transplant is done using cryopreserved stem cells taken from the patient. Generally, the transplant is produced from peripheral blood. Autologous transplants are used when no donor has been located or the patient’s clinical condition is not suitable for a donor transplant.
Allogeneic stem cell transplantation
Ideally, stem cells from an HLA-matched sibling or related family member are used to perform allogeneic transplants.
However, when a good donor match cannot be located within the patient’s family, allogeneic stem cell transplantation can be done using cells from an unrelated tissue-matched donor. The donated graft can be from peripheral blood, cord blood, or bone marrow.
Haploidentical stem cell transplantation from a partially HLA matched tissue donor is another type of allogeneic transplant. When the tissue match is only 50%, the graft may be taken from peripheral blood after hematopoietic stem cell isolation and refinement. If the donor is not a family member, only cells with a minor level of tissue mismatch can be used.
Reduced-intensity (“mini” or “RIC”) conditioning involves using lower doses of chemotherapy to kill cancer cells and suppress the immune system before transplantation. Suitable for the elderly, this type of allogeneic stem cell transplant is often used for patients over 70 years old.
Post-Transplant Treatment
We provide ambulatory care and close monitoring of each patient after stem cell transplantation. After being discharged from the hospital, treatments are administered at our outpatient clinic, including immunotherapy with cytokines or lymphocyte cells.
In addition, multidisciplinary experts in pulmonology, gynecology, infectious diseases, and liver disease, respectively, run innovative clinics to help patients with their specialized needs following transplantation.
Our Doctors

Arnon Nagler, MD

Avichai Shimoni, MD
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Sheba Medical Center provides innovative, personalized medical care to patients from around the world. We are the largest, most comprehensive hospital in the Middle East and dedicated to providing advanced and compassionate medicine for everyone.
We welcome all cases, including the rarest and the most challenging. Our medical teams collaborate to provide the best possible health outcomes. From your initial inquiry through the long-term follow-up care, we are here for you.
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