Introduction

The Division of Haematology, Medical Oncology & Haemopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation at Queen Mary Hospital is a tertiary / quaternary referral centre for blood diseases and malignant diseases in Hong Kong.

Range of clinical service

The Division comprises teams of experts in benign and malignant blood diseases, bone marrow transplantation and medical oncology. About 1000 new cases of these diseases are referred annually. The majority of these patients have haematological malignancies, consisting of acute and chronic leukaemias, lymphomas, plasma cell myeloma and other haematological neoplasms. Patients with other benign blood diseases including coagulation and bleeding disorders, acquired and inherited anaemias, and platelet disorders are also treated. The major facility for these patients is a specially designed haematology ward with HEPA-filtered air, which accommodates more than twenty patients.
The Division manages an adult haematopoietic stem cell transplantation suite, where more than a hundred allogeneic or autologous transplantations are performed every year. For allogeneic transplantation, this facility is the only one in Hong Kong. The full range of allogeneic transplantation is performed, with haematopoietic stem cells coming from HLA-identical siblings, matched unrelated donors and umbilical cord blood. Autologous transplantations are mainly performed for lymphomas and myeloma. The transplantation suite contains ten single rooms, a cytapheresis facility for isolation of peripheral blood haematopoietic stem cells, and a transplantation laboratory.
Medical Oncology is a relatively new development in the Division. Patients with a wide range of solid tumors are treated. Special emphasis has been placed on breast, liver and gastrointestinal cancers.

Clinical research

The Division is active in clinical research. Specific areas include new treatment protocols for acute leukaemias, malignant lymphomas and plasma cell myeloma; novel therapeutic approaches in patients with complications or relapses after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation; and thrombotic diseases. Predisposing factors and treatment of infective complications, including viral and invasive fungal infections, are also studied. Oral arsenic trioxide has been pioneered in the Division for the treatment of leukaemias and other haematological malignancies.
Medical Oncology research is focused on developing novel treatment strategies for various solid tumours, especially breast and gastrointestinal cancer. Early phase clinical trials are actively conducted to bring the novel therapeutics from the bench to the clinic.

Clinical trials

The Division conducts phase I, phase II and phase III clinical trials of novel therapeutic agents in benign and malignant blood diseases, and also solid tumors. These trials have included studies in coagulopathy, leukaemias, lymphomas, plasma cell myeloma and various solid tumors. Recruitment of patients is territory-wide, and cover all major hospitals in Hong Kong.

Basic research

The Division engages in basic research in the molecular genetic defects in haematological neoplasms, benign and malignant haematopoiesis, and solid tumors. For in vivo experiments, murine and zebrafish models are used. State-of-the-art technologies are utilized.

Specialist outpatient clinic

Patient referrals are seen in specialist outpatient clinics, which are listed below. Both Hong Kong residents and foreign patients are welcome. Private patients are also welcome, and appointments can be obtained from the Private Clinic at Queen Mary Hospital. Private patients can be admitted into specially designed private wards at Queen Mary Hospital, which include first class (single room) and second class (double room) suites.

Educational activities

Clinical fellows are welcome. Clinicians who want to conduct clinical work in Hong Kong need to check with the Hong Kong Medical Council on registration requirements. A knowledge of spoken Chinese is highly recommended, although not mandatory. Research laboratory fellows are accepted all year round. The Division also holds the following weekly meetings.
Haematology, Medical Oncology & Haemopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) incorporating the Division of Molecular Medicine