The Stem Cell Transplant Program

Peripheral blood/bone marrow stem cell transplantation is a procedure indicated in the cure of many hematologic malignancies. In the case of autologous stem cell transplant, it involves the collection of blood progenitor cells and their reinfusion upon treatment with high-dose chemotherapy. In the case of allogeneic stem cell transplant, it involves the collection of normal stem cells from a related or unrelated fully compatible donor and the infusion after a radio/chemotherapy preparative therapy, followed by a prolonged immunosuppressive treatment to allow the donor cells to grow.

Stem cells are blood cells at the earliest stage of development in the bone marrow, which is found inside some bones. Despite being in the bone marrow, the stem cells used for a transplant can be mobilized into the peripheral blood by specific treatments, so they can be extracted from the blood stream via a vein. Alternatively, the cells can be harvested directly from the bone marrow (usually the back hip area) during a simple surgical procedure. The terms "stem cell transplant" and "bone marrow transplant" refer to the same treatment, but can distinguish the source of the cells.

Stem cell/bone marrow transplantation is one of the most effective treatments for a variety of malignant and nonmalignant conditions including acute leukemia, chronic leukemia, multiple myeloma, Hodgkin’s disease, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, aplastic anemia, and sickle cell disease. Many patients, otherwise incurable with more conventional therapies, have the potential of being placed in "remission" following a stem cell transplant.