Hematology

Stem Cell/Bone Marrow Transplantation

Stem cell transplantation also known as Bone Marrow transplantation is mainly used to treat blood cancer. Marrow is the soft, spongy tissue inside bones. It contains cells called hematopoietic stem cells. These cells can turn into several other types of cells. They can turn into more bone marrow cells and they can also turn into any type of blood cell. Certain cancers and other diseases keep hematopoietic stem cells from developing normally. A stem cell transplant gives new stem cells. The new stem cells can make new and healthy blood cells. An Autologous Transplant is a type of transplant that uses the person's own stem cells which are preserved earlier and used later. In an allogeneic transplant procedure the patient receives bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells from another person. Umbilical cord blood is an alternative hematopoietic stem cell source for patients with hematologic diseases who can be cured by allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. Human leukocyte antigen haplotype-mismatched transplant for hematological neoplasms is controversial.