Bone Marrow Transplantation

Bone Marrow Transplantation - Also called BMT, a bone marrow transplant is a procedure whereby unhealthy bone marrow stem cells are removed and replaced by healthy bone marrow stem cells from the patient's own marrow (autologous) or from a matching donor's marrow (allogeneic). Similarly, a peripheral blood stem cell transplant (PBST) involves removing blood-forming stem cells from the circulating (peripheral) blood of the patient themselves or from a matching donor.

Replacing unhealthy bone marrow stem cells can help the body's immune system fight cancer and better recover from cancer treatments (e.g., chemotherapy, radiation therapy). Bone marrow transplantation may be a treatment option for leukemias, lymphomas, and multiple myeloma. BMT may also be used in situations where aggressive chemotherapy and/or radiation treatments for other types of cancer have killed or damaged a significant number of healthy blood cells.

Previous: Bone Marrow Aspiration

Next: Bone Scan

Back to the Cancer Glossary