Division of Hematology and Cellular Therapy

Expert treatments

Hematological oncology offers a wide range of treatment options tailored to the specific type and stage of blood cancer and allied disorders. The choice of treatment depends on several factors, including the type of blood cancer or allied disorder, the patient's age, overall health, and individual preferences. Treatments are coordinated through hematologists and hematology oncology specialists who are focused on tailored care. 

Chemotherapy

Although chemotherapy remains integral to the treatment of leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), we continue to see newer therapy replacing this conventional treatment. As an example, chemotherapy may be used as induction therapy at the beginning of treatment to rapidly kill as many leukemia cells as possible and achieve remission, where there's no detectable evidence of leukemia in the bone marrow. This phase often involves a combination of several chemotherapy drugs given in high doses. Once remission is achieved, consolidation therapy is given to kill any remaining leukemia cells that may not be detectable. This can involve the same drugs used in induction therapy or different drugs. The intensity and duration of consolidation therapy depend on the type of leukemia and the patient's risk factors.

Targeted therapy

Targeted therapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to specifically target cancer cells without harming normal cells as much as traditional chemotherapy does. In hematologic cancers and other cellular conditions, targeted therapy is used to interfere with specific molecules involved in cancer cell growth, progression, and spread. The explosion of targeted therapy products for the treatment of malignant blood conditions continues to add to or replace conventional therapy. The benefits often extend beyond improving cancer cell kill to being less toxic than chemotherapy. Examples include:

• Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs): A class of drugs that block the activity of tyrosine kinases (TKs). Tyrosine kinases are enzymes that play a critical role in cell signaling, including cell growth, differentiation, and survival. They function by adding phosphate groups to tyrosine residues on proteins, a process called phosphorylation. When TKs are dysregulated or overactive, it can lead to uncontrolled cell growth and the development of cancer.
• Monoclonal antibodies: This treatment targets specific proteins on cancer cells (e.g., rituximab for lymphoma).
• Bispecific antibodies: These artificial proteins that bind to two different targets (i.e., antigens). They combine the specificities of two monoclonal antibodies into a single construct.
• Bruton’s kinase inhibitors (BTKIs): These are a class of drugs that target and block the activity of the BTK enzyme. BTK plays a crucial role in the signaling pathways of B cells, which are immune cells responsible for producing antibodies. By inhibiting BTK, these drugs disrupt B-cell signaling, leading to reduced B-cell activation, proliferation, and survival.
• Antibody drug conjugates: A class of biopharmaceutical drugs designed as a targeted therapy for cancer. ADCs are complex molecules composed of an antibody (monoclonal) linked to a biologically active cytotoxic (chemotherapeutic) drug. Essentially, it's a way to deliver chemotherapy directly to cancer cells, minimizing exposure to healthy cells and reducing side effects.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that helps your immune system fight cancer. Unlike chemotherapy and radiation, which directly target cancer cells, immunotherapy boosts or modifies the body's natural defenses to recognize and attack cancer cells. Immunotherapy can stimulate the immune system to work harder and more effectively to find and attack cancer cells. It can also "train" the immune system to specifically target cancer cells, which it may have previously ignored or failed to recognize as a threat. Types of immunotherapy include:

• Checkpoint inhibitors: Block proteins that prevent the immune system from attacking cancer cells (e.g., pembrolizumab, nivolumab).
• CAR T-cell therapy: Genetically modifies a patient's T cells to target and destroy cancer cells (used in lymphoma, leukemia, and myeloma).
• Cytokines: Stimulate the growth and activity of immune cells (e.g., interferon, interleukin-2).
• TIL therapy: Extracting T-cells from tumor deposits, growing them in the laboratory, and infusing them into patients.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy, also known as radiotherapy, is a cancer treatment that uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. It works by damaging the DNA within cancer cells, making it impossible for them to grow and divide. While it can affect normal cells as well, the goal is to target cancer cells as precisely as possible to minimize harm to healthy tissue. Radiation therapy can be used as the primary treatment or in combination with other treatments. The improvements in the delivery of radiation have resulted in greater effectiveness with less toxicity and, in many cases, have shortened the treatment interval.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Bone Marrow Transplantation)

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a medical procedure in which a patient's damaged or diseased bone marrow is replaced with healthy hematopoietic stem cells. These stem cells can develop into all types of blood cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The goal of HSCT is to restore the body's ability to produce healthy blood cells. It is used to treat leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Types include:

• Autologous: This uses the patient's own stem cells.
• Allogeneic: In this treatment a patient is matched with a donor who may be related or unrelated, and the healthy stem cells are transplanted.

Surgery

Surgery has a more limited role in treating hematologic cancers compared to solid tumors, but it can still be an important part of the treatment plan in specific situations. Surgery is most often used for diagnostic purposes including taking tissue samples for diagnosis and staging. This is particularly important for lymphomas, where the type and grade of the lymphoma determine the treatment approach. 

Supportive care

This is one of the most important parts of a patient’s treatment plan. Supportive care is essential for managing side effects of treatment and improving quality of life. AHN works to tailor your care to what will be best for you and your specific treatment plan. You will have a dedicated symptom management and palliative medicine team. They will work to help with:

• Medications: To prevent nausea, pain, infections, and other complications.
• Blood transfusions: To treat anemia, low platelet counts, and, in rare circumstances, white cell transfusion.
• Nutritional support: To maintain strength and energy and map out effective strategy for symptom control.
• Psychological support: To address emotional and mental health needs.

Clinical trials

Research studies that evaluate new treatments or combinations of treatments. These often offer access to cutting-edge therapies that are not yet widely available. Learn more about our currently active clinical trials.

Hematological oncology specialists

Our team of hematologic and cellular therapy cancer specialists provide both comprehensive and compassionate care that is tailored to your specific diagnosis. Using the latest technological advancements in medicine and a multidisciplinary approach to care, we see you and your unique needs first to design a treatment plan that is as unique as you are.

The AHN Leukemia, Lymphoma, and Myeloma Cancer Leadership team meets regularly to discuss and confirm the right combination of therapies for a patient. We work with you to get an accurate diagnosis and to create an effective strategy for your treatment.

Malignant Hematological Conditions Specialists

Nonmalignant Hematological Conditions Specialists

Use Find Care for a full list of hematologists.

How to get care

If you want to be tested for or have been diagnosed with blood cancer or an allied disorder, we’re here to help.

Call our schedulers at 412-578-4484 or the Cancer HOPE line at (412) 578-HOPE 412-578-4673 to schedule an appointment.

Second opinions

If you have cancer, you have a team of oncology specialists ready to review your medical records and offer you a second opinion. After completing their review, they’ll talk with you about your goals to determine a course of treatment that’s right for you. To get started, fill out our Second Opinion Request form. A nurse navigator will contact you within the next 24 to 48 hours to discuss next steps and schedule.

Schedule a screening

AHN holds weekly and monthly cancer screening clinics throughout western Pennsylvania. We screen for seven different types of cancer. 

Clinical trials and research

The Division has a robust clinical trials program covering all of hematology both malignant and nonmalignant. Two primary research laboratories function within the Division investigating new forms of cellular therapy and biological enhancement to existing cellular therapy.

Cancer clinical trials and research

The AHN Cancer Institute is a pioneer in cancer research and participates in clinical trials that are open for patients who qualify and wish to participate. Patients are screened for consideration with ongoing clinical trials at every stage of their treatment. 

What is a clinical trial?

Clinical trials are studies that try to answer questions about new ways to treat cancer with cells, medications, radiation, and surgical techniques. Previous trials have shown how new methods of treatment improve survival and quality of life and reduce the risk of cancer returning.

You participate in a clinical trial only if you volunteer to do so and meet criteria for inclusion in the study, and you can stop participating in a trial at any time.

Who can join a clinical trial?

The plan for the trial, called a protocol, explains what the trial will do and how the study will be done. Based on the questions the research is trying to answer, each clinical trial protocol outlines specific criteria necessary to be eligible to participate in the trial.

Common criteria for entering a trial are:

• Having a certain type or stage of cancer.
• Having received a certain kind of therapy in the past.
• Being in a certain age group.

Federal rules help ensure that clinical trials are run in an ethical manner, with your rights and safety protected. It’s to ensure that you’re not put at increased risk by participating in the trial, and that the results of the study are accurate and meaningful.

Currently active clinical trials

If you would like to participate in a clinical trial and help our innovative team discover groundbreaking cancer solutions, ask your doctor if you’re eligible to participate in one. Find currently active clinical trials that are open for participation.

Refer your patient to an AHN specialist

There are two ways for medical professionals, who are not a part of Allegheny Health Network, to refer their patients to an AHN specialist and request their first appointment. You can:

• Call our schedulers at 412-578-4484.
• Go to Find Care to find the right AHN specialist and the most convenient location. Then refer your patient, provide relevant patient details, and request an appointment directly from the doctor's profile.

For more information about referring your patient to an AHN specialist, read the Independent Physician Referral FAQs.