Blood Cancer Program
Making leading-edge hematologic therapies accessible to all Arizonans
About Our Program
The Hematologic Malignancy and Cellular Therapy Program at City of Hope® Cancer Center Phoenix focuses on breakthrough treatments for all hematologic malignancies, offering access to innovative therapies and clinical trials not available anywhere else in Arizona.
Our team of skilled physicians and advanced practice providers focuses on reducing treatment toxicity and improving patient outcomes using leading-edge transplant methods. Our program is structured to encourage collaboration through regularly scheduled tumor boards, where each patient is reviewed and benefits from the expertise of hematologic malignancy and transplant experts from across our national cancer care system. City of Hope is known for setting new industry standards in the areas listed below.
- Extending curative bone marrow therapy (BMT) to more patients: With regimens that capitalize on graft versus tumor effect rather than on intense chemotherapy and radiation, City of Hope’s curative therapy is available to more patients.
- Breaking the age barrier for BMT candidacy: Older patients with lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, myelodysplasia and myeloproliferative disorders are evaluated for BMT like their younger counterparts, with the expectation of long-term cure of their bone marrow disorder.
- Leading the way in cellular therapies: At the forefront of the application of bispecific antibodies, City of Hope was a contributing organization to the first FDA-approved BiTE treatment and among the first to utilize CAR T-cell therapy as a bridge to stem cell transplant.
Meet Our Experts
Our clinical team treats all subtypes of hematologic oncology disorders and have decades of experience with hematopoietic cell transplantation. Additionally, they participate in and are primary investigators for leading-edge hematologic clinical trials and research.
Tibor Kovacsovics, M.D.
Chief of Hematology and Medical Director of Leukemia
Hematologist-Oncologist
Professor, Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation
Tibor Kovacsovics, M.D., joined City of Hope in 2023. In his role as a hematologic oncologist and Medical Director of Leukemia at City of Hope Phoenix, he works with a multidisciplinary team of providers dedicated to diagnosing and managing hematologic malignancies and other blood disorders. Dr. Kovacsovics has extensive expertise in the clinical management of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and amyloidosis, as well as in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. He brings with him 20 years of experience conducting clinical research on a variety of hematologic malignancies, serving as principal investigator and co-investigator on dozens of groundbreaking studies.
Aileen Go, M.D.
Associate Medical Director of Cellular Therapy Program
Hematologist-Oncologist
Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Hematology
As associate director of cellular therapy at City of Hope Phoenix, Aileen Go, M.D., treats patients with hematologic malignancies, including blood cancers and bone marrow disorders, using state-of-the-art cellular therapies, stem cell transplantation and advanced molecular profiling techniques. Dr. Go is dedicated to developing new treatment options through leading-edge research and innovative clinical trials.
Jeffrey R. Schriber, M.D., F.R.C.P.
Medical Director of Transplant and Cellular Therapy
Hematologist-Oncologist
Clinical Professor, Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation
Jeffrey Schriber, M.D., F.R.C.P., is the Medical Director of the Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy program at City of Hope Phoenix, where he leads a multidisciplinary team of specialists dedicated to the diagnosis and clinical management of all types and stages of hematologic malignancies and blood disorders, with a focus on providing innovative, leading-edge treatments and compassionate, personalized care.
Misam Zawit, M.D., M.P.H.
Hematologist-Oncologist
Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation
As a hematologic oncologist at City of Hope Phoenix , Misam Zawit, M.D., M.P.H., works with patients undergoing treatment for a variety of blood cancers, including acute myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome and bone marrow failure syndromes. Dr. Zawit combines his expertise in a wide range of treatment options, from chemotherapy and targeted therapies to cellular therapies and bone marrow transplantation, with a commitment to compassionate and personalized care for every patient throughout their cancer journey.
Refer a Patient to City of Hope
We strive to offer a well-coordinated experience to our referring providers. Upon receiving your referral, our team will immediately begin processing it, with minimal work on your end.
Address
14200 West Celebrate Life Way
Goodyear, AZ 85338
Institutional Distinctions
Delivering tomorrow's advances in cancer care to those who need them today, City of Hope:
- Established one of the world's largest and most successful bone marrow and blood stem cell transplant programs, with our Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research ranked as an “overperforming” transplant center
- Has performed more than 20,000 bone marrow and stem cell transplants and is recognized as the only cancer center nationwide to exceed outcome expectations for patients for 15 consecutive years
- Has been instrumental in developing T cell engager protocols, including the first Food and Drug Administration-approved bispecific antibody treatment, and was the first to utilize chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy as a bridge to stem cell transplant
- Was the first medical center to offer CAR T trials targeting CD123 in acute myeloid leukemia and use CAR T cell therapy to treat patients with the rare disease called blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm
- Has deep expertise with rare lymphoma subtypes, including peripheral T cell lymphoma, double-hit B cell lymphomas and AIDS-related lymphomas
Code Acute Leukemia™
When patients go to an ER with symptoms of acute leukemia, immediate evaluation and initiation of treatment is critical. We’ve developed a comprehensive process to help you expedite the transfer of these patients to our cancer center, where they can receive immediate specialized care with the urgency they deserve.
Our Code Acute Leukemia program offers:
- A single phone number to escalate care and initiate the transfer: (623) 207-3255
- Immediate peer-to-peer calls to provide clinical advice on how best to stabilize patients for transfer
- Real-time verification of insurance benefits to address any insurance concerns
Code Acute Leukemia patients are transferred directly to our hematologic malignancy unit at our cancer center in Goodyear, Arizona, the only center in the West Valley accredited by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT).
Our Services and Offerings
At City of Hope, our physicians and clinical experts diagnose and treat a variety of types and stages of hematologic cancers, including relapsed or refractory disease.
Our Commitment to Clinical Excellence
Our Phoenix program offers a dedicated multidisciplinary team that blends innovative research discoveries with superior clinical treatments. The result is improved outcomes for patients with various blood cancers, blood abnormalities and other hematologic disorders. Additionally, our program is:
- Accredited by FACT, a distinction given only to facilities that meet the highest standards in clinical care for adult allogeneic and autologous stem cell therapy, immune effector cell therapy, cell therapy product collection and cell therapy product processing
- Certified by the American Society of Clinical Oncology Quality Oncology Practice Initiative Certification Program, which is awarded to hospitals that demonstrate a commitment to quality along nationally approved standards
- Accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP), including recognition for biorepository services for tissue collection, preparation, sampling and processing at our laboratory. Our hospital is among fewer than 100 CAP-accredited biorepository programs in the United States
Latest Blood Cancer News
Dedication to Speed to Care
City of Hope Cancer Center and our outpatient locations are structured to maximize speed to care, with: