Using the recipient’s own stem cells, this method is used for: Blood-related cancers (lymphomas, Hodgkin’s disease, and leukemia), Connective tissue cancers (sarcomas), Nervous system cancers (neuroblastoma), And certain solid tumor cancers (breast, testicular and ovarian cancer) Stem cells are harvested or collected at a certain point in therapy, then frozen, stored and given after high [...]
Cord blood transplantation is an exciting area of research and a major focus of study in both pediatric and adult settings. When a baby is born, the umbilical cord is cut, and the placenta is discarded. Recently, it has been discovered that the blood inside the umbilical cord is rich in stem cells. The stem [...]
Another important aspect of bone marrow transplantation is finding a suitable donor. The donor in allogeneic bone marrow transplant is an important person, and great care is taken to identify a suitable donor. Donors are educated so they understand what will happen when marrow is harvested. Donors must undergo several tests and procedures to ensure [...]
Advances in treatment methods, including the use of PBSCT, have reduced the amount of time many patients must spend in the hospital by speeding recovery. This shorter recovery time has brought about a reduction in cost. However, because BMT and PBSCT are complicated technical procedures, they are very expensive. Many health insurance companies cover some [...]
A “tandem transplant” is a type of autologous transplant. This method is being studied in clinical trials for the treatment of several types of cancer, including multiple myeloma and germ cell cancer. During a tandem transplant, a patient receives two sequential courses of high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplant. Typically, the two courses are given [...]
A “mini-transplant” (also called a non-myeloablative or reduced-intensity transplant) is a type of allogeneic transplant. This approach is being studied in clinical trials for the treatment of several types of cancer, including leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and other cancers of the blood. A mini-transplant uses lower, less toxic doses of chemotherapy and/or radiation to prepare [...]
The major risk of both treatments is an increased susceptibility to infection and bleeding as a result of the high-dose cancer treatment. Doctors may give the patient antibiotics to prevent or treat infection. They may also give the patient transfusions of platelets to prevent bleeding and red blood cells to treat anemia. Patients who undergo [...]
After entering the bloodstream, the stem cells travel to the bone marrow, where they begin to produce new white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets in a process known as “engraftment.” Engraftment usually occurs within about 2 to 4 weeks after transplantation. Doctors monitor it by checking blood counts on a frequent basis. Complete [...]
The stem cells used for autologous transplantation must be relatively free of cancer cells. The harvested cells can sometimes be treated before transplantation in a process known as “purging” to get rid of cancer cells. This process can remove some cancer cells from the harvested cells and minimize the chance that cancer will come back. [...]
After being treated with high-dose anticancer drugs and/or radiation, the patient receives the stem cells through an intravenous (IV) line just like a blood transfusion. This part of the transplant takes 1 to 5 hours.