Category Archives: Stem Cell Transplant

Although a stem cell transplant can be a lifesaving procedure forpeoplediagnosed with a bloodcancer or blood disorder, the standard transplant may not be appropriate for all patients. This is because the conditioning regimen (the intensive chemotherapy and/or radiation treatments preceding the transplant) is very taxing on the body, and certain patients such as those who are older cannot tolerate the toxicity associated with theprocess. Because nonmyeloablative, or "mini," transplants rely on the anti-tumor effects of the donor cells, patients can be given a lower dose of chemotherapy resulting in an easier-to-tolerate treatment regimen with fewer side effects. But at City of Hope, this does not rule them out of a potentially curative transplant, thanks to our care team's specialization in nonmyeloablative transplants (also known as a reduced intensity, or "mini," transplant.) Here, Stephen J. Forman, M.D., theFrancis & Kathleen McNamara Distinguished Chair in Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, explains how this relatively new procedure works. What is a nonmyeloablative stem cell transplant and how does it work to treat cancer? Nonmyeloablative stem cell transplant is a way of doing a transplant that is not as intensive as traditional transplant regimens. It uses lower doses of drugs than a standard transplant … Continue reading →

A stem cell transplants, in combination with high dose chemotherapy, is a treatment that offers a chance for durable remission of multiple myeloma. High-dose chemotherapy, though effective in killing myeloma cells, also destroys normal blood-forming cells, called hematopoeitic stem cells, in the bone marrow. Stem cell transplantation replaces these important cells. Hematopoeitic stem cells are normally found in the bone marrow and in the peripheral blood (blood found in the arteries or veins). Virtually all transplants in myeloma are now obtained from the blood and are referred to as peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplants. Bone marrow transplants are no longer done in multiple myeloma. Stem cells are collected after approximately four cycles of initial (induction) myeloma therapy in order to reduce the amount of myeloma cells. Medications that stimulate the production of stem cells (called mobilizing) are often given to ensure collection of sufficient stem cells for several transplants. All patients who are eligible for transplantation are encouraged to have stem cells obtained (also known as harvested) so that the cells are available if the patient chooses to undergo transplantation at some point during the course of their disease.Stem cell transplants are categorized by the source of stem cells: … Continue reading →

By Judith Sachs WebMD Feature Reviewed by Arnold Wax, MD There are two basic types of stem cell transplants and several good sources for these cells. You and your doctor will decide together on the best choice for you. The main types are: This type of transplant uses your own stem cells. Most transplants for multiple myeloma and relapsed non-Hodgkin's or Hodgkin lymphoma are autologous. Advantages: Less risk of rejection or graft-versus-host disease, in which the new donor cells think your cells are foreign and attack them. Quicker engraftment. Fewer side effects. Disadvantages: Some cancer cells may remain; cancer-killing effect ends after you have chemotherapy or radiation. How It Works: In a tandem (double autologous) transplant, you go through the above process twice instead of once, with a three- to six-month break in between. For multiple myeloma, a tandem transplant has a slightly higher success rate than a single transplant. However, recent clinical trials show that using your own cells once, followed by reduced intensity conditioning treatment and then a transplant from a sibling, offers even longer remissions than tandem. This type of transplant uses a donor's stem cells, either from a relative or a volunteer registered with the National … Continue reading →

The UCLA Program is a combined program caring for patients with Hematologic Malignancies receiving chemotherapy and those patients for whom Stem Cell Transplantation is the therapy of choice. The treatmentof blood and marrow cancers includecurrently available therapies, investigational drugs and treatments, as well as stem cell transplantation. Our physicians meet weekly to discussindividual treatment approachesas part of developing a coordinated treatment recommendation. Bone Marrow Transplantation was first performed at UCLA in 1968 using a related allogeneic transplant to treat an 18 month old child with severe combined immunodeficiency syndrome. The UCLA Marrow Transplantation Program was formally initiated in 1973. Unrelated donor marrow transplants have been carried out at UCLA since 1987, and Cord Blood Transplants have been performed at UCLA since 1996. Autologous transplants have been performed at our program since 1977. Since 1992 most of the Autologous Transplants have utilized Peripheral Blood Stem Cells. Since 1998 an increasing number of the Allogenic Transplants have utilized Peripheral Blood Stem Cells. From inception to the completion of 2007 we have performed 3726 transplants (3080 transplants in the adult population and 646 in the pediatric population). For decades, this comprehensive program has provided a full range of services as a local, regional, … Continue reading →

What are hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT)? HCT and PBSCT are procedures that use stem cells to treat a patient's malignancy or to repair diseased or defective bone marrow. A patient receives intensive chemotherapy with or without total body irradiation therapy in an attempt to kill all cancerous cells, but which also destroy his/her own bone marrow function. This therapy also causes immunosuppression, which prevents rejection of the newly transplanted stem cells from a related or unrelated donor. There is little risk of rejection of a patient's own stem cells following autologous transplant. After transplantation, the new stem cells replace the damaged bone marrow and cells of the immune system. HCT and PBSCT allow a patient to receive very high doses of chemotherapy and radiation designed to kill cancer cells. The high doses of therapy lead to the destruction of a patient's own marrow and immune system, which is then replaced by marrow from a donor or from peripheral blood stem cells that have been harvested before therapy. City of Hope has performed more than 12,000 transplants for patients from virtually every state as well as from numerous countries. HCT and PBSCT patients at … Continue reading →

Watch the Cancer.Net Video: Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplantation: An Introduction, with Sonali Smith, MD, adapted from this content. Key Messages: Stem cell transplantation is a procedure that is most often recommended as a treatment option for people with leukemia, multiple myeloma, and some types of lymphoma. It may also be used to treat some genetic diseases that involve the blood. During a stem cell transplant diseased bone marrow (the spongy, fatty tissue found inside larger bones) is destroyed with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy and then replaced with highly specialized stem cells that develop into healthy bone marrow. Although this procedure used to be referred to as a bone marrow transplant, today it is more commonly called a stem cell transplant because it is stem cells in the blood that are typically being transplanted, not the actual bone marrow tissue. The purpose of bone marrow and hematopoietic (blood-forming) stem cells Bone marrow produces more than 20 billion new blood cells every day throughout a person's life. The driving force behind this process is the hematopoietic (pronounced he-mah-tuh-poy-ET-ick) stem cell. Hematopoietic stem cells are immature cells found in both the bloodstream and bone marrow. These specialized cells have the ability … Continue reading →

In a stem cell transplant, the patient gets high-dose chemotherapy (sometimes with radiation to the whole body) to kill the cells in the bone marrow (including the myeloma cells). Then the patient receives new, healthy blood-forming stem cells. When stem cell transplants were first developed, the new stem cells came from bone marrow, and so this was known as a bone marrow transplant. Now, stem cells are more often gathered from the blood (a peripheral blood stem cell transplant). Stem cell transplant is commonly used to treat multiple myeloma. Before the transplant, drug treatment is used to reduce the number of myeloma cells in the patients body (see the section Chemotherapy and other drugs for multiple myeloma). Stem cell transplants (SCT) are autologous and allogeneic. For an autologous stem cell transplant, the patients own stem cells are removed from his or her bone marrow or peripheral blood before the transplant. The cells are stored until they are needed for the transplant. Then, the person with myeloma gets treatment such as high-dose chemotherapy, sometimes with radiation, to kill the cancer cells. When this is complete, the stored stem cells are infused back into the patients blood. This type of transplant is … Continue reading →

Stem cells are cells in the body that have the potential to turn into anything, such as a skin cell, a liver cell, a brain cell, or a blood cell. Stem cells that turn into blood cells are called hematopoietic stem cells. These cells are capable of developing into the three types of blood cells: Hematopoietic stem cells can be found in bone marrow (the spongy tissue inside bones), the bloodstream, or the umbilical cord blood of newborn babies. A stem cell transplant (sometimes called a bone marrow transplant) can replenish a child's supply of healthy hematopoietic stem cells after they have been depleted. It's used to treat a wide range of diseases, including cancers like leukemia, lymphoma, neuroblastoma, Wilms tumor, and certain testicular or ovarian cancers; blood disorders; immune system diseases; and bone marrow syndromes. Transplanted hematopoietic stem cells are put into the bloodstream through an intravenous (IV) line, much like a blood transfusion. Once in the body, they can produce healthy new blood and immune system cells. The two main types of stem cell transplants are autologous and allogeneic. The type of transplant needed will depend on the child's specific medical condition and the availability of a matching … Continue reading →

What is stem cell transplantation? A stem cell transplant (also called hematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation) infuses healthy blood-forming stem cells into the body. Stem cells can be collected from the bone marrow, circulating (peripheral) blood, and umbilical cord blood. There are two main types of stem cell transplants: An advantage of an allogeneic transplant is that the stem cells come from a healthy donor with no malignant cells. However, since it can be difficult to find a matching donor, an autologous transplant is usually more common. A stem cell transplant can be used to restore healthy bone marrow in patients with leukemia. Stem cells help stimulate new bone marrow growth and restore the immune system. Before a stem cell transplant for leukemia, you will undergo a conditioning regimen, which involves intensive treatment to destroy as many leukemia cells as possible. You may receive high doses of chemotherapy and, in some cases, radiation therapy. You may also receive reduced-intensity conditioning (a mini-allogeneic transplant), which uses lower, less toxic doses of chemotherapy and/or total body irradiation (TBI) before the transplant. Once this preparative regimen is complete, you are ready to undergo the transplant. Much like a blood transfusion, youll receive the stem … Continue reading →

What are bone marrow and hematopoietic stem cells? Bone marrow is the soft, sponge-like material found inside bones. It contains immature cells known as hematopoietic or blood-forming stem cells. (Hematopoietic stem cells are different from embryonic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells can develop into every type of cell in the body.) Hematopoietic stem cells divide to form more blood-forming stem cells, or they mature into one of three types of blood cells: white blood cells, which fight infection; red blood cells, which carry oxygen; and platelets, which help the blood to clot. Most hematopoietic stem cells are found in the bone marrow, but some cells, called peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs), are found in the bloodstream. Blood in the umbilical cord also contains hematopoietic stem cells. Cells from any of these sources can be used in transplants. What are bone marrow transplantation and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation? Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) are procedures that restore stem cells that have been destroyed by high doses of chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. There are three types of transplants: Why are BMT and PBSCT used in cancer treatment? One reason BMT and PBSCT are used in … Continue reading →