Allogeneic Transplant
 The program has a major clinical and research focus on the use of allogeneic stem cell transplantation. This type of transplant uses peripheral blood/bone marrow stem cells from a matched donor, which could be a relative or a volunteer.
Allogeneic stem cell transplantation may be the most effective treatment for many hematological malignancies, such as acute or chronic leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma. However, it can be indicated in selected cases of severe nonmalignant disorders, such as aplastic anemia or sickle cell anemia. Unfortunately, most patients do not have a brother or a sister who is perfectly matched. Therefore, alternative donor sources must be sought. These include stem cells from a mismatched relative, or from an unrelated volunteer, or finally from a matched cord blood (placental blood). |
Autologous Transplant
With autologous stem cell transplants, patients’ own stem cells are initially collected from either the blood or the bone marrow and then frozen in the stem cell laboratory after processing. Sometimes the stem cells are treated to remove contaminating tumor cells. The patient then receives high doses of chemotherapy and, finally, is infused with the previously collected stem cells to allow a prompt recovery of the blood cells. Autologous stem cell transplants are mostly performed for myeloma, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, and leukemia but also in selected cases of solid tumors. Besides the pathologies listed above, our program has developed and is leading a nationwide protocol for the treatment of chronic myeloproliferatives disorders and in particular for allogeneic transplantation in patients with myelofibrosis. |
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