Since its inception, the Program has been vanguard in the treatment of hematological malignancies and cancers, and performs allogeneic, autologous, and cord transplants. For patients undergoing allogeneic transplant, we offer some innovative and effective approaches such as haplomismatched, non-myeloblative (mini transplants) and donor leukocyte infusion (DLI).
The Bone marrow transplants (BMTs) are used to treat many types of cancer, as well as other diseases. It is rarely given as a first line of cancer therapy, but is used primarily to treat resistant cancer cells. BMTs involve high doses of chemotherapy and sometimes radiation to rid the body of cancer cells. Stem cells, which are immature blood cells, are then given to "rescue" the bone marrow.
The type of transplant to be performed depends upon the most appropriate donor that can be identified. The cells from the donor should match the recipient's; cell compatibility is evaluated through a process called HLA typing, which requires a blood test. HLA stands for Human Lymphocyte Antigens: these antigens are found on the surface of white blood cells. They are part of the immune system that helps to protect the body from viruses and bacteria.
An autologous transplant uses the patient's own stem cells. Certain diseases do not affect the bone marrow, so the cells are healthy and can be used for the transplant. Patients with the following diseases are often candidates for autologous transplant:
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Neuroblastoma
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Lymphoma
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Hodgkin disease
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Osteosarcoma
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Testicular cancer
An allogeneic transplant uses stem cells collected from another person, either related or unrelated. The donor may be a sibling or an unrelated person identified through a donor registry.
Another source of stem cells is the umbilical cord blood of a related or unrelated newborn baby. If the donor and the recipient match completely through HLA typing, the transplant is more likely to be successful. Most people need an allogeneic transplant because cancer cells have invaded the bone marrow, or a disease has caused the bone marrow to fail to work properly. Some examples of diseases requiring allogeneic transplant include:
After a decade of successfully treating a variety of diseases, the program has emerged from being perceived as experimental, to being regarded standard option for the treatment of certain types of diseases. The program will continue to find new ways to improve the quality of life for cancer patients.
