Division of Hematology/Oncology
(see also Childrens Center
for Cancer and Blood Diseases)

UCMG physicians in the Division of Hematology/Oncology provide a full range of clinical services, including diagnosis and therapy for infants, children, and adolescent patients with hematologic and oncologic disorders. Division physicians play a central role in CHLA's Childrens Center for Cancer & Blood Diseases

CHLA has been a National Cancer Institute referral site since 1955 and is a charter member of the Children's Cancer Study Group (CCSG), the largest national organization for developing leading-edge treatments in pediatric cancer.

The Division's comprehensive clinical and research program is the largest of its kind in the Western United States and the faculty are nationally recognized in their specific areas of expertise. Clinical programs are aimed at providing state-of-the-art diagnosis, treatment, medical and psychosocial care, as well as long term management of patients with pediatric hematologic and oncologic diseases. Division physicians are a part of one of the few programs in the country with the capability of piloting new and innovative treatment programs for children with previously resistant cancers and hematological disorders.

UCMG physicians in the Divison of Hematology/Oncology also see patients in outpatient offices in Encino, San Bernardino and Ventura County.

Description of Programs and Services

  • Clinical Oncology Service

    UCMG physicians provide a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to the initial diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of children with cancer. Consultation services are available to physicians involved in day-to-day management of such patients. The Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Program is a major referral center in the Pacific-Southwest and has one of the largest pediatric oncology services in the nation. The program is one of the few in the United States which can provide new and innovative treatment programs for previously resistant or recurrent childhood cancers (New Agents Studies). The service is divided into specialized program areas:

    - Leukemia and Lymphoma Program

    The leukemia/lymphoma program provides comprehensive care for children with leukemia and Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Patients are cared for by a multidisciplinary team that includes oncologists, pediatric surgeons, radiation oncologists, pediatric oncology nurses and social workers. Detailed strategies are in place for treatment of newly diagnosed as well as relapsed patients. The strong link to the dynamic pharmacology laboratory involves studying the use of new agents for patients with relapsed or refractory leukemias and lymphomas.

    - Bone and Soft Tissue Tumor Program

    The bone and extremity tumor portion of this program provides state-of-the-art treatment of osteogenic sarcoma, Ewing's tumor and sarcomas of the extremities. All services needed to ensure accurate diagnosis, rapid initiation of therapy, necessary resection and reconstruction and postoperative rehabilitation are available on site. A team that includes an oncologist, orthopedic surgeon, general surgeon, oncology nurse, physical therapist and social worker facilitates the multidisciplinary approach. One of the major goals of the program is to develop and apply innovative procedures in limb salvage. UCMG physicians within this program have recently pioneered the use of salvage surgical approaches for tumors of the pelvis and spine.

    The soft tissue tumor portion of this program provides state-of-the-art treatment for sarcomas arising in locations other than extremities, and for liver, renal and germ cell tumors. The multidisciplinary team for this group of tumors includes an oncologist, pediatric surgeon and radiation therapist as well as nurse oncologist, social worker and nutritionist. The goal of treatment is to provide curative therapy with the least morbidity and the greatest preservation of organ function. Patients with rhabdomyosarcoma and other soft tissue sarcomas, Wilms' tumor, liver tumors and germs cell tumors are all treated in this comprehensive manner.

    - Neural Tumor Program

    The neural tumors program is a multidisciplinary program providing state-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic care for patients with neural tumors, as well as comprehensive psychosocial assessments and interventional therapy. Program physicians treat patients with neuroblastoma, central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) tumors and retinoblastoma. We provide clinical therapeutic protocols (studies of novel therapies) to improve outcomes and advance the knowledge of our treatment of these tumors. Specific services include: general/opthalmologic/neurologic surgery, opthalmologic evaluations and treatment, chemotherapy, biotherapy, gene therapy, radiation therapy, neuropsyhchologic assessment and therapy, psychosocial assessment and therapy, neuroradiologic diagnostic/interventional procedures, diagnostic neuropathology, neurologic diagnostic evaluations and therapeutic interventions, and advanced practice nursing services.

    - Autologous Bone Marrow Transplant Program for Solid Tumors

    Program physicians provide autologous bone marrow transplantation for children with neuroblastoma and other pediatric solid tumors. Physicians aim to improve survival of patients by using high-dose chemoradiotherapy with marrow rescue. Services include detection and purging of tumor cells in autologous marrow, and use of biologic response modifiers after transplantation in an attempt to decrease relapse rates.

    - Radiation Oncology Program

    A full time pediatric radiation oncologist provides radiation therapy to patients at the Childrens Center for Cancer & Blood Diseases. The newly redesigned radiation oncology suite is child friendly, uses state-of-the-art equipment for simulation and treatment, and has facilities and personnel available for both general anesthesia and conscious sedation, as needed. Conformal therapy is in development which should further enhance the precision of radiation treatments.

    - LIFE Program

    The long-term information, follow-up and evaluation (LIFE) program is designed to meet the needs of long-term survivors of childhood cancer. Survivors of childhood cancer, 5 years disease free and 2 years off treatment, are eligible. The program is orchestrated by a comprehensive team of pediatric oncology specialists that includes a pediatric oncologist, nurse specialist, psychologist, social worker and health educator. The LIFE program philosophy is that survivors of childhood cancer should be followed for life, seen yearly for follow-up, be well-informed about their health history and understand the need for regular follow-up. The LIFE team also believes that research studies are important to the understanding of survivors' needs for future health care. A LIFE clinic visit offers survivors a complete evaluation including review of medical history, recommendations for long-term follow-up, ongoing information and support for survivors and their families, and assistance to survivors in their transition from pediatric to adult care providers. LIFE program staff participate in childhood cancer research studies and serve as consultants to primary care physicians in the community.

  • Clinical Hematology Service

    UCMG physicians provide a multidisciplinary approach to the care of children with blood disorders. Consultation services are available to physicians whose patients require evaluation of abnormal CBC results or coagulation profiles and to physicians involved in day-to-day management of children with blood disorders. The service is divided into four distinct programs:

    - Red Cell Disorder Program

    Program physicians provide comprehensive services to patients with sickle cell anemia and severe beta thalassemia. UCMG physicians also evaluate and initiate treatment of various red cell disorders including congenital and acquired hemolytic anemias, nutritional anemias and other hemoglobinopathies. The CHLA Sickle Cell/Hemoglobinopathy Program is designated by the State of California Newborn Screening Program as a referral center for confirming abnormal hemoglobin, as well as a genetics center for newborn hemoglobinopathy screening. Chronic transfusion services, including home chelation to prevent transfusion hemosiderosis, are available for severe beta thalassemia or sickle cell anemia. Full diagnostic services are available for red cell disorders. The Childrens Center for Cancer & Blood Diseases is one of ten federally funded national programs in sickle cell research. Several basic and clinical research projects have been developed by program faculty.

    - Hemophilia and Coagulation Defects Program

    UCMG physicians provide continuing and comprehensive care to children and young adults with inherited bleeding disorders (in particular, hemophilia). Our emphasis is on development of new factor preparations, including recombinant human factor VIII. A multidisciplinary team of specialists staffs the program representing hematology-oncology, clinical immunology, orthopediatrics, genetics, dentistry, physical therapy, health education and psychosocial support. The hemophilia treatment program is a federally funded resource which focuses on multidisciplinary management of bleeding disorders and collaborates with other programs in the United States to provide comprehensive care and teaching for patients and health care providers.

    - White Cell Defects Program

    UCMG physicians provide diagnostic and clinical services to optimize care of patients with various qualitative and quantitative neutrophil disorders. Program physicians operate a white cell function laboratory, offering a full range of specific assays to evaluate oxidative metabolism and neutrophil movement disorders. Determination of anti-neutrophil antibodies is also available. Program physicians participate in innovative trials of new treatments for these disorders.

    - Bone Marrow Failure Program

    Program physicians provide diagnosis and therapy for children with congenital and acquired bone marrow failure states, including pure red cell aplasia and the aplastic anemias. UCMG physicians in this program administer any required immunosuppressive therapies, growth factor treatments or transfusions. They also work closely with their colleagues in the hematopoietic stem cell transplant program to ensure that patients with severe aplastic anemia receive the best available therapy for their disease, be it immunosuppressive therapy or allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

PHYSICIANS

Psychologists
HOW TO CONTACT US

The Division of Hematology/Oncology welcomes your inquiries. To contact us you can:

Call the Division directly at (323) 669-5653

Write to us at
Division of Hematology/Oncology
Childrens Hospital Los Angeles
4650 Sunset Blvd., #54
Los Angeles, CA 90027-6062

Physicians who wish to contact a faculty member, consult about a patient or refer a patient can also call 1-800-ASK-PACE (1-800-275-7223). Please note, this service is for physicians ONLY.



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