Leukemia and Lymphoma Program

Leukemia is a cancer of the white blood cells. When a child has leukemia, the bone marrow produces a large number of abnormal white blood cells that cannot protect against disease and causes poor immunity. They also interfere with the child’s production of red blood cells and platelets, which can cause anemia and bleeding problems.

Lymphoma is a cancer that starts in a child’s lymphatic tissues, including lymph nodes, thymus, spleen, tonsils or adenoids, and can involve the bone marrow. Lymphoma is the third most common type of cancer in children.

The Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta has a large team of providers with specialized expertise in treating all forms of childhood leukemia and lymphoma, including:

• Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
• Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
• Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)
• High-risk leukemia and lymphoma
• Hodgkin lymphoma
• Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL)

Our Leukemia and Lymphoma Program at Children’s is one of the largest pediatric leukemia and lymphoma programs in the country. Each year, we care for more than 150 newly diagnosed patients using a variety of treatment protocols, including blood and marrow transplant (BMT), hematopoietic stem cell transplant, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T therapy, and Phase I and II clinical trials for patients whose cancer has relapsed or is not responding to treatment.

U.S. News & World Report ranks the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center one of the top pediatric cancer programs in the country. We are home to one of the largest pediatric cancer programs in the nation, which follows more than 800 children and young adults with leukemia and lymphoma each year. Our volumes and expertise make us a top choice for the treatment of childhood leukemia and lymphoma. Our highly skilled team combines the latest proven technology and research with a caring, family- and child-friendly approach. Every child who comes to the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center for treatment is cared for by a team that is focused solely on his or her disease.

Program highlights:

• We have physicians with national Children’s Oncology Group (COG) leadership and expertise in ALL, AML, CML and Hodgkin lymphoma.
• We are one of a select group of centers offering CAR-T cell therapy for relapsed leukemia, as well as ongoing research to develop new CAR-T cell technology.
• Our team is leading a first-in-pediatrics study examining the effects of combining everolimus with other T cell-specific chemotherapy in children with relapsed or refractory T cell ALL (T-ALL) lymphoblastic lymphoma (LLy). The goal of the study is to allow more T-ALL/LLy patients to attain remission and proceed to a stem cell transplant.

The Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center is committed to excellence and innovation in pediatric cancer and blood disorders research. As Georgia’s top pediatric cancer research center, we are home to one of the largest clinical trial programs in the country, through which we offer our patients access to novel childhood cancer and blood disorders treatment options.

Our team is committed to advancing research and medicine by developing new techniques, treatment and cures for children and young adults with leukemia and lymphoma. Our interactive translational research program works to apply new knowledge and advances in the fight against cancer.

View our open research studies:

• Blood and Marrow Transplant
• Developmental Therapeutics
• Leukemia and Lymphoma
• Survivorship

Receiving a cancer diagnosis for your child can be an emotional and overwhelming experience. At the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, we are here to support you and your family. Whether treating a toddler during an emergency or helping a teen through chemotherapy treatments, we make it our mission to provide the best care—and best experience—for every child. Family is a big part of your child’s well-being. Not only are you a vital member of your child’s healthcare team; you are a source of security and comfort.

• Sharon Castellino , MD, MSc, Program Director
• D. John Bergsagel, MD
• Kevin Bunting, PhD
• Deb DeRyckere, PhD
• Douglas K. Graham, MD, PhD
• Lubing Gu, MD
• Curtis Henry, PhD
• Frank Keller, MD
• Tamara Miller, MD, MSCE
• Melinda Pauly, MD, Medical Director of Oncology
• Christopher Porter, MD
• Cheng-Kui Qu, MD, PhD
• Sunil Raikar, MD
• Himalee Sabnis, MD, MSc
• Zhengqi Wang, PhD
• Daniel S. Wechsler, MD, PhD
• Dan Yan, MD, PhD
• Muxiang Zhou, MD

Advanced practice providers:

• Linda Ballard, CPNP
• Anna Bennett, CPNP
• Steph Bernardo, PNP
• Lois Chukoian, PNP
• Lindsey Goldberg, CPNP
• Amy Lahey, PNP
• Kelly MacDonald, CPNP
• Chelse Sandborn, PNP