Stem cell transplant is the process of extracting stem cells from the body, preserved and then given to the same patient, or to another recipient. These cells can differentiate into various types of cells. They can differentiate into
1.Hematological cells: Red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets.
- Non-hematological cells: Mesenchymal cells, cartilage cells, bone cells.
Stem cell transplant is important for the treatment of some diseases such as leukemia (acute and chronic types), Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, diabetes, multiple myeloma, retinoblastoma, pernicious anemia and autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis. Some years ago, this process used to be called “bone marrow transplant,” because that was the only way to extract stem cells from people, however, as a result of improvements in medicine and advancement in healthcare, there are now more ways of collecting viable and functioning stem cells from people. These sources include bone marrow, adipose tissue, bloodstream, umbilical cord blood. Although there are various ways of doing this, each method has its advantage over others.
WHY THE NEED FOR STEM CELL TRANSPLANTS?
Stem cells are cells that can differentiate into other cells, both hematological and non-hematological. Stem cells can regenerate and renew itself. Stem cells can either develop to form daughter stem cells or differentiate to form other types of cells. These features have been useful in the treatment of diseases and the repair of injured tissues. Some diseases damage the bone marrow. In this case, the cells produced by the bone marrow would be abnormal and diseased cells. New stem cells, when introduced into the body, are capable of making new cells that can form new stem cells, or produce some specialized cells. In addition to this, other diseases such as genetic and bone diseases have benefitted immensely from stem cell transplants.
TYPES OF STEM CELL TRANSPLANT
There are two types of stem cell transplant. These are
- Autologous stem cell transplant: Autologous stem cell transplant is the type of transplant in which stem cells of a donor, is collected, stored and then given back to the same person. It can also be referred to as high-dose chemotherapy. One advantage of this type of transplant is that it removes the possibilities of rejection or mismatch. Also, the recovery time is faster because the stem cells belong to the person.
- Allogenic stem cell transplant: Allogenic stem cell transplant is the direct opposite of autologous stem cell transplant. In this transplant, stem cells are taken from a donor, stored and then given to another person, called the recipient. It is most useful when the patient cannot utilize its cells because of many reasons such as
- When the bone marrow is already diseased, so healthy cells cannot be extracted.
- When the patient is not healthy enough to undergo the whole procedure of stem cell extraction
HOW IS STEM CELL TRANSPLANT DONE?
Stem cell transplant is a process that has five phases. These are
- Examinations
- Extraction
- Conditioning therapy
- Transplant
- Recovery
- Examinations: Before a stem cell transplant could be done, the health status of the patient has to ascertained. Below are some of the tests that should be done to evaluate the condition of the individual;
- Complete blood count: This test is to check for the number of blood cells the person has. The number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and the platelets.
- Blood test: This is done to check if the patient has an infection. Transplanting stem cells from an infected person will create problems for the recipient
- ECG: This test shows the rhythmicity and the electrical activity of the heart.
- X-rays: This is done to check the state of the internal organs such as the pancreas, liver, lungs, etc.
- Biopsy: This is very important, especially when it’s suspected that the patient has cancer. An individual whose bone marrow has been affected by cancer cannot donate stem cells, either to himself or another person.
- Extraction: After the tests and examinations have been done, and the individual has been certified fit, the next stage is to extract the stem cells from the patient. There are three major places where they can be gotten from the body. These are;
Bone marrow: Syringes are inserted into bones, and the stem cells are collected. The most common bone used are the hip bones.
Umbilical cord blood: This is the safest method. The parents of the baby donate the placenta. Stem cells can be easily collected from the cord blood.
Blood: There are stem cells in the blood. Although, there are not enough stem cells in it. Some injections can be given to stimulate the proliferation of the stem cells. These injections are called growth factors. These treatments also push the stem cells into the bloodstream. This process is known as apheresis.
- Conditioning therapy: After the stem cells have been extracted. They are usually stored, pending the time, they’d be needed for transplant. The conditioning therapy is the procedures done to prepare the recipient for the transplant of the new stem cells. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are performed on the patient before transplantation. The purpose of the conditioning therapy is to
- Eliminate existing bone marrow cells, so the new stem cells can have a place to thrive
- Removal of diseased cells, such as cancer cells
- Immunosuppression: The immune system is usually suppressed to reduce the chances of rejection and some unpleasant reactions.
These processes always come with some side effects. This is mostly due to the conditioning therapy. However, people react to this therapy in different ways. The adverse effects might vary. It includes liver damage, infections, loss of hair, fatigue, etc.
- Transplant: This is done between 24 hours to 48 hours after the conditioning therapy. The stem cells are passed to the body, and it’s usually a painless procedure.
- Recovery: The patient has to remain in the hospital for a while after the transplant to ensure a good recovery. Antibiotics and blood cells are also administered to the patient, to prevent infections, anemia, and bleeding due to the low level of platelets.
For more information, please visit iSTEMCELL.com
References
Donnelly, A., Johar, S., O’Brien, T., and Tuan, R. (2010). Welcome to Stem Cell Research & Therapy. Stem Cell Research & Therapy, 1(1), p.1.
Donnelly, A., Johar, S., O’Brien, T., and Tuan, R. (2010). Welcome to Stem Cell Research & Therapy. Stem Cell Research & Therapy, 1(1), p.1.
Locke, P., O’Brien, T. and Tuan, R. (2011). Stem Cell Research & Therapy marks its first anniversary. Stem Cell Research & Therapy, 2(3), p.22.
