Stem Cell Transplants

There are two main types of stem cell transplants: autologous and allogeneic.

• Autologous transplant: Your own blood-forming stem cells are collected, stored, and then given back to you after treatment with high doses of chemotherapy. The high doses of chemotherapy and/or radiation kill both the cancer cells and the blood-producing cells left in your bone marrow. Your stem cells are then given back to you, allowing the bone marrow to recover and produce new blood cells.
• Allogeneic transplant: An allogeneic stem cell transplant uses stem cells donated by a healthy donor. Donors may be a family member, or an unrelated volunteer identified through national and international donor registries. An allogeneic transplant replaces a patient’s bone marrow with healthy donor cells that will develop into blood cells and immune systems.

In addition to restoring healthy bone marrow function, donor immune cells can recognize and eliminate residual disease. This unique feature makes allogeneic transplantation one of the most effective curative treatments for many blood cancers and bone marrow disorders.

• Amyloidosis (autologous)
• Aplastic anemia (allogeneic)
• Leukemias (allogeneic)
• Lymphomas (allogeneic or autologous)
• Multiple myeloma (autologous or allogeneic)
• Myeloproliferative disorders (allogeneic)
• Myelodysplastic syndrome or myelodysplastic disorders (allogeneic)
• Sickle cell disease (allogeneic)
• Testicular or germ cell cancer (autologous)

1. Initial Consultation: The first step is meeting with one of our stem cell transplant physicians who will review your health history and discuss the risks and benefits of transplant, and make treatment recommendations
2. Evaluation and Preparation: Before transplantation, patients undergo a detailed medical evaluation that may include blood tests, imaging studies, bone marrow examinations, heart and lung function testing, and infectious disease screening. These assessments help ensure that transplantation can be performed safely and provide important information about your disease before treatment begins. Before transplantation, patients identify a dedicated live-in caregiver who provides critical support during treatment and recovery
3. Stem Cell Collection (Autologous Transplants): For patients undergoing an autologous transplant, stem cells are collected from the patient’s bloodstream through a process called apheresis. Specialized medications are used to mobilize stem cells from the bone marrow into the bloodstream, where they can be collected and stored until transplant. 
4. Donor Identification (Allogeneic Transplants): For patients undergoing an allogeneic transplant, our transplant team conducts a comprehensive donor search to identify the most appropriate donor. Through access to national and international donor registries, as well as family donor evaluations, suitable donors can be identified for the vast majority of patients.
5. Conditioning Therapy: Before receiving stem cells, patients undergo conditioning therapy consisting of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combination of both. Conditioning helps eliminate diseased cells, suppress the immune system when necessary, and prepare the bone marrow to receive new stem cells.
6. Stem Cell Infusion: The transplant is performed through an intravenous infusion like a blood transfusion.  After infusion, the stem cells travel naturally to the bone marrow, where they begin rebuilding the blood and immune systems.
7. Engraftment and Blood Cell Recovery: Over the following days and weeks, the transplanted stem cells begin producing new blood cells in a process known as engraftment. White blood cells usually engraft in about 2 weeks after the stem cells are infused, and platelets typically recover a few days after that. Recovery and engraftment vary widely based on the type of transplant and individual circumstances, but ongoing follow-up is essential to ensure the best possible outcomes. After discharge, patients will need to have ongoing follow-up care to monitor them for infections, complications, and how well the new stem cells are working.

A successful transplant requires close collaboration between patients, caregivers, and the healthcare team. Before transplantation, patients identify a dedicated live-in caregiver who provides critical support during treatment and recovery. A caregiver is usually a family member or close friend whom you can rely on, and they play a very important role in your transplant process and recovery. Our team provides extensive education, symptom management, nutritional support, psychosocial services, rehabilitation resources, and survivorship care throughout the transplant journey.

Following discharge, patients continue to receive comprehensive follow-up care to monitor recovery, manage complications, assess immune system function, and evaluate long-term treatment outcomes.

At Smilow Cancer Hospital, we remain committed to our patients long after transplantation is complete, providing lifelong expertise and support as they return to their daily lives.