There are two types of stem cell transplant:
Autologous transplant
This form of transplant uses stem cells removed from a patient’s own bloodstream or bone marrow and stored while the patient receives chemotherapy or radiation therapy. After treatment, the patient’s healthy stem cells are thawed and reintroduced into the bloodstream to help replace the blood cells destroyed during the treatment.
Allogeneic transplant
This form of transplant uses stem cells harvested from a matched donor. These cells may be collected from a donor’s blood, bone marrow or donated umbilical cord that was frozen and stored after birth. The donated cells may come from a family member of the patient or an unrelated donor with genetically similar blood cells. After the patient undergoes treatment, the donated cells are infused into the patient’s bloodstream.
Transplant patient journey
While this process is complex, our team of expert caregivers will guide you through each phase. Once you and your transplant physician have agreed to proceed with the transplant, the following overview outlines the general stages of the transplant patient journey:
- Collection of stem cells: In autologous stem cell transplant, the initial phase involves harvesting stem cells directly from the patient. Conversely, for patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplant, the primary step is identifying the most suitable donor, followed by the extraction of their stem cells. Medication is given in advance to increase stem cell production and stem cells are then collected from the bloodstream or bone marrow. Sometimes the stem cells are collected from a vein in the arm, but usually they are collected through a special catheter placed in a vein in the chest. If bone marrow is being used for the transplant, the cells are collected through a procedure called a bone marrow harvest. The collected cells are kept frozen until it is time for them to be infused. If bone marrow is being used, cells are collected through a procedure called a bone marrow harvest.
- Pre-transplant conditioning of cells: Prior to the transplant procedure, patients are treated with a "conditioning regimen," which is chemotherapy, sometimes supplemented with radiation therapy. For patients undergoing an autologous stem cell transplant, this treatment is done to remove any remaining cancer cells. For patients undergoing an allogeneic stem cell transplant, the conditioning regimen is administered to remove the recipients bone marrow so that it can be replaced by the donor’s bone marrow.
- Transplant procedure: The stem cells are infused through a special intravenous catheter that is placed in a vein in the chest. The stem cell infusion is very similar to a blood transfusion.
- Recovery: The conditioning regimen administered prior to the stem cell infusion causes a severe reduction in white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. This makes the patient vulnerable to infection, anemia, and bleeding. During the recovery period, patients are closely monitored and treated with antibiotics and blood transfusions until their blood counts are high enough to provide protection. Patients who undergo allogeneic stem cell transplant will also be treated with medications to suppress the immune system to manage a condition called graft-versus-host disease.
