Transplantation

Stem cell transplantation may be used to give high-dose chemotherapy for advanced cancer cases. Stem cell procedures have proven to produce long-term survival and even cures in some patients with intermediate and high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

Stem cell transplantation involves removing and replacing  stem cells, which are produced in the bone marrow. Stem cells are the early forms for all blood cells in the body (including red, white, and immune cells). Cancer treatments harm growing cells as well as cancer cells, and so the healthy stem cells must be replaced by transplanting them from the donor into the patient.

Collecting the Stem Cells

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Sources of Cells. Stem cells must first be collected in one of the following ways:

• Directly from blood, called peripheral blood stem cell transplantation
• From bone marrow, called bone marrow transplantation
• From umbilical cords or placentas -- this procedure uses donor cells, but has a lower risk for immune system rejection of the cells than with a standard donor transplant. It takes longer to restore blood cells with this process, so at this time its use is limited to children and sometimes adults with low weight. A small 2001 study on adults suggested it might also be useful for adults with normal weights.

Some current evidence suggests that the stem cell and bone marrow procedures produce similar benefits in terms of response rates and duration of remission. However, in a 2002 study stem cell transplantation was associated with better overall survival rates. It also seems to be superior in terms of cost, quality of life, and the need for less supportive care, so is the procedure discussed here.