Bone Marrow Transplant |
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Autologous Transplant Guide: Introduction
What Is a Bone Marrow Transplant?
A Bone marrow transplant is the replacement
of diseased or damaged bone marrow cells with new bone marrow
cells that have been stored, frozen or obtained from a bone
marrow donor. The administration of bone marrow usually
occurs after a patient has received high-dose chemotherapy
or radiation. In essence, a bone marrow transplant uses
very high doses of therapy in attempt to cure the cancer.
When these higher doses are used to kill the cancer cells,
the normal bone marrow cells will also be destroyed. The
new bone marrow cells are infused after the toxic effects
of the chemotherapy or radiation have cleared, and these
cells will re-create a healthy bone marrow. The procedure
has been used successfully to treat a variety of cancer
types, including leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, myelodysplasia
and solid tumors, such as testicular cancer or breast cancer.
It has also been used as a therapy for disorders like aplastic
anemia, which are associated with bone marrow failure.
Bone marrow is the spongy tissue inside bones that produces the different types of blood cells, including:
- White blood cells, which fight infection
- Red blood cells, which carry oxygen to and remove waste products from organs and tissues
- Platelets, which enable the blood to clot
The cells in the bone marrow that develop into all of the different types of blood cells listed above are called stem cells -- these are the important cells that are transferred during bone marrow or stem cell transplantation.
Stem cells are found predominantly in the bone marrow but occasionally can be stimulated to travel out into the blood. When the stem cells are collected from the hip bone by performing many bone marrow aspirations (usually performed in the operating room), the transplant procedure is called a bone marrow transplant. When the stem cells are collected from the blood (after stimulating the stem cells with a hormone called G-CSF), the transplant is called a peripheral blood stem cell transplant. Currently, most transplant procedures involve collecting stem cells from the peripheral blood. When bone marrow or blood stem cells are infused into the recipient, they are administered through an intravenous catheter or central venous catheter just like a blood transfusion. The stem cells are not administered directly back into the bone, but travel to the bones from the blood stream.
What Is the Transplant Like?
Advances in the treatment of cancer and improvements
in supportive care over the past 10 years have improved
the results and tolerability of bone marrow transplantation.
However, having a bone marrow transplant remains a dangerous
and difficult procedure. There are two main types of bone
marrow transplants: allogeneic and autologous. For autologous
transplantation, the patient receives his or her own bone
marrow or stem cells that were collected and frozen before
admission for high-dose chemotherapy or radiation. For allogeneic
transplantation, the patient receives bone marrow or stem
cells from a donor who may or may not be a relative. Allogeneic
transplants are significantly more dangerous and require
more intensive follow-up after the transplant procedure.
Identical twin allogeneic transplants are called syngeneic
transplants.
More Information:
Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center.
Last updated May 8, 2007
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor or health care provider. We encourage you to discuss with your doctor any questions or concerns you may have.
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