Hematology/Oncology: Stem Cell Transplants
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Stem Cell Transplantation
Stem cell transplantation can be part of the treatment protocol for cancers such as leukemia, multiple myeloma, and Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas. At CTCA at Midwestern Regional Medical Center, Dr. Redei and his team perform autologous and allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplants.
Autologous transplants use your own stem cells. For this procedure, we collect peripheral blood stem cells from your body and then freeze them in our Stem Cell Processing and Cryopreservation Laboratory until they are needed. We then return the stem cells to your body after you have received high doses of chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy to destroy the cancer cells.
Allogeneic transplants replace your stem cells with the stem cells of a donor. When the donor is a relative, such as a sibling or parent, the transplant is called a related allogeneic transplant. Dr. Redei says this is the preferred form of this kind of stem cell transplant. There is also the unrelated allogeneic transplant, in which the stem cells come from a donor who is of no relation to you. In order to determine if a related or unrelated donor’s stem cells are the right match to replace yours, you will undergo a test called the human leukocyte antigens (HLA) test. Through the HLA test, CTCA pathologists analyze your blood and tissue type and compare it against blood samples from a donor to ascertain if there is a match.
What’s Involved in a Stem Cell Transplant?
The conditioning, or preparative regime, prior to a stem cell transplant typically involves intensive treatment using chemotherapy and, in some cases, radiation therapy to eradicate the majority of the disease. The process, while killing off the cancer cells, suppresses your immune system. Once the preparative regime is complete, you are ready to undergo the stem cell transplant. You’ll either get your own stem cells back or receive stem cells from a donor. The transplant procedure itself is rather simple. Much like a blood transfusion, you’ll receive the stem cells intravenously. On average, the procedure takes 30 minutes to one hour.
Because stem cells are blood-forming cells that reproduce to form healthy cells, they reconstitute and reinvigorate your immune system. In essence, a stem cell transplant can help to suppress your disease and restore your immune system.
The type of preparation you’ll undergo for a stem cell transplant depends on factors such as:
- Which hematologic malignancy you are fighting
- Whether the stem cells you are to receive are your own or those of a donor
- The general state of your health (i.e., your physical condition)
During your preparative regime and transplant, and for a period of time after your transplant, you’ll most likely be an inpatient at our hospital. You’ll stay in one of our private, inpatient rooms and receive around-the-clock monitoring and care. The length of your stay as an inpatient will depend on a number of factors, including which type of transplant procedure you undergo. Be assured that throughout your stay for treatment—whether it’s onsite in our patient rooms, at our nearby Guest Quarters or at any of the local hotels we have partnered with—we will do everything possible to see that you and your family are comfortable and accommodated at all times. For more details on all of the great services we offer, visit our Hospital Amenities section.
