Bone Marrow Transplantation

What is bone marrow transplantation?

Bone marrow transplantation is a special treatment for individuals with certain types of cancer and noncancerous diseases. It’s also called a bone marrow transplant or a hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT).

Bone marrow helps make blood stem cells, including white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. Bone marrow transplants replace unhealthy marrow with healthy marrow and are critical for restoring the body’s ability to produce blood cells in individuals with conditions like leukemia, lymphoma and aplastic anemia.

For the estimated 50,000 individuals who receive bone marrow transplants each year, the benefits are significant, potentially eradicating cancer and restoring immune function. At Penn State Cancer Institute, we provide comprehensive care and support throughout the transplant process to ensure the best possible outcomes for our patients.

Treatment

The bone marrow transplant process involves several critical steps to achieve the best result. After a thorough assessment and development of a personalized treatment plan, you may receive chemotherapy and possible radiation to destroy unhealthy cells and prepare your body for new cells. The transplant itself is done through an intravenous (IV) tube, much like a blood transfusion, where healthy stem cells are infused into your bloodstream. These cells travel to the bone marrow and begin producing new, healthy blood cells.

Our experienced team performs 200 to 220 procedures like this each year. We offer the two main types of bone marrow transplantations:

Autologous transplants

Autologous transplants, or autologous HSCTs, use your own blood stem cells for the transplant instead of a donor’s. First, we collect your stem cells. After that, you’ll get high-dose chemotherapy to kill the diseased cells. Then, we give your stem cells back to you through an IV. We may also freeze some of your collected cells in case a future transplant is needed.

Allogeneic transplants

Allogeneic transplants use healthy blood stem cells from someone else. Sometimes stem cells come from a relative. A close match offers a lower risk of side effects and complications after transplant.

Prior to your transplant, you’ll receive conditioning treatments that include chemotherapy and possible radiation. This helps kill cancer cells and suppress your immune system. Suppressing your immune system is important to help your body accept the transplanted blood stem cells.

After the conditioning treatments are complete, we will infuse the donor cells into your bloodstream through an IV. Side effects of allogeneic stem cell transplants may include infections and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). We will monitor you closely for these side effects.

International accreditation in bone marrow transplantation

Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy seal

Since 1996, the Cancer Institute has performed more than 3,400 stem cell transplants and continues to provide approximately 200 lifesaving stem cell transplants each year. Our stem cell transplant program has earned and maintained accreditation from the International Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT) since 2000.

Accreditation is required to perform stem cell transplants and remain part of the international network of donors that patients depend on for potentially lifesaving procedures for many blood cancers and blood diseases. FACT awards accreditation once every three years.

Organizations voluntarily seek and maintain FACT accreditation through a rigorous process that includes peer-reviewed, on-site inspections. Accreditation ensures that a hospital’s clinical programs and personnel maintain the highest standards of care.

New advances in cellular therapy

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, or CAR T, is a groundbreaking treatment that uses your body’s own cells to fight certain types of diseases. During the procedure, your doctor will extract several million of your white blood cells, called T cells. A technician then genetically modifies those cells in a lab to fight blood cancer before they are reinfused into your body. The Cancer Institute performed its first CAR T infusion in 2018. Many recipients remain in remission today.

Learn more about CAR T-cell therapy

Risks and complications

While bone marrow transplants can be lifesaving, they do come with risks like infections, bleeding and side effects from anesthesia. Chemotherapy or radiation before the transplant can weaken the immune system, making infections more likely.

Some long-term risks may include graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), where the new cells attack the body (specific to allogeneic transplants), as well as possible organ issues, hormonal changes, infertility or secondary cancers. It’s important to understand these risks when considering a stem cell transplant.

At the Cancer Institute, our expert team carefully monitors you and uses regular check-ups to catch problems early. We focus on safety and provide comprehensive care to reduce risks and support a strong recovery.

Is a bone marrow transplant right for me?

Bone marrow transplants are used when aggressive blood cancers, diseases or genetic disorders have not responded to conventional treatments. It may be used to treat diseases such as:

Acute leukemia
Multiple myeloma
Lymphoma

Your oncologist will decide if a bone and marrow transplant is an effective treatment option for you. They may recommend stem cell transplantation based on your: