2018 marks the 50th Anniversary of the world’s first successful human bone marrow transplant (BMT) using a Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) matched sibling donor. The transplant was performed on August 24, 1968 by Robert Good, MD, in an infant with an immune deficiency syndrome. Since achieving this milestone 50 years ago, the University of Minnesota continued to lead the field, performing over 8,000 blood and marrow transplants (BMTs) for the treatment of leukemias, lymphomas, myelomas, and other blood-related cancers.
The University of Minnesota, including the Masonic Cancer Center, Medical School, and M Health, will be celebrating this anniversary throughout the year.
BMT is used to treat Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) and Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). In Minnesota:
- There is higher incidence of MDS/AML than the national average
- Mortality is 10-13% higher in Minnesota adults with heme malignancy than the US average
- Hematological malignancies represent 42% of childhood cancer diagnoses
Find out more about BMT and its history and current uses in the M Health Medical Bulletin
