Procedure of a stem cell transplantation | Stem Cell Transplantation

Procedure of a stem cell transplantation

Stem cell transplantation from the perspective of the recipient begins with so-called conditioning. This is a preparatory phase, which serves to destroy malignant cells in the bone marrow and is accompanied by a suppression of the body’s own immune system. Chemo- and radiotherapy as well as antibody therapies are used for this purpose, which are combined in various ways.

The stronger the dosage of the treatment is chosen, the more significant the side effects the patient feels. At the same time, however, the probability of a relapse is reduced. In the best case, all diseased cells are destroyed.

The treating physicians decide individually on the exact procedure. The transplanted cells have their own immune cells, which destroy the recipient’s remaining bone marrow cells after the transplantation. Identical pairs of twins can tolerate the stem cells of the other one almost without problems, but in this case the immune reaction of the new immune system to the diseased cells is also rather low.

For this reason, malignant cells can persist. Similar to a blood transfusion, the patient receives the healthy stem cells or bone marrow after conditioning through a vein. The transplanted blood stem cells settle in the marrow cavities of the bones and form functional blood cells.Within three weeks, blood levels normalize and the process of bone marrow growth is complete.

Conditioning means the destruction of the bone marrow prior to stem cell transplantation through chemo- or radiotherapeutic measures. In this way, malignant cells are destroyed. In the best case, the destruction of all cancer cells is successful, increasing the chance of cure. In addition, the recipient’s immune system is rendered inoperable. This plays an important role in allogeneic transplantation, as the rejection of the donor cells is to be prevented.

Stem cell transplantation for leukemia

Leukaemia is a group of diseases of the haematopoietic system in which malignant subgroups of white blood cells multiply uncontrollably. The treatment of leukemia is based on chemo- and/or radiotherapeutic destruction of the malignant and functionless cells in the blood as well as in the bone marrow. In particular acute leukemias, which progress rapidly, can be combated in this way and in some cases even completely cured.

In other cases, this form of treatment is less promising. This is particularly true for chronic forms of leukemia, which progress more slowly and over a longer period of time. They more often show resistance to therapy compared to radiation or chemotherapy alone.

Although the disease can be controlled temporarily, it shows a high probability of relapse. In such cases, as well as in patients with other forms of leukemia that are difficult to treat, there is the possibility of conditioning with subsequent stem cell transplantation. First, the diseased cells, but also some healthy cells of the recipient are destroyed before the healthy stem cells are transfused.