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Chapel Hill, NC –A medical procedure called allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation, commonly known as a bone marrow or stem cell transplant, is the only known curative option for many patients with life-threatening blood-borne cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma.

According to the National Marrow Donor Program, the number of transplants performed in the United States doubled between 2005 and 2010 to more than 5200 a year.

The Center for International Bone Marrow & Transplant Research, an international organization dedicated to improving transplant outcomes, publishes outcomes data each year for transplantation centers across the United States.

In its most recent report covering the years 2007-2009 (published in 2011), UNC Cancer Care’s Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplantation Program was rated an “overperforming” center. Based on a risk adjusted assessment, UNC’s bone marrow and stem cell transplantation patients had a much higher survival rate than expected, despite the high level of complexity of the cases that were treated. These results were for all patients who underwent a transplant from a related or unrelated donor. Out of 156 centers from across the country, UNC was one of only 14 to achieve this ranking.

“We are extremely pleased to achieve this distinction as these excellent results reflect the hard work and dedication of the many faculty and staff at UNC who are involved with our program”, said Thomas Shea, MD, Director of the Stem Cell Transplant Program and Associate Director for Outreach programs at UNC Lineberger.

The Center for International Bone Marrow & Transplant Research, an international organization dedicated to improving transplant outcomes, publishes outcomes data each year for transplantation centers across the United States.