Stem Cell (Bone Marrow) Transplant
Bone marrow is the spongy tissue inside bones. The bone marrow contains blood-forming stem cells (hemapoietic). The blood cells produced from the bone marrow have different functions;
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Red blood cells (red blood cells-erythrocytes): These are the cells that give the blood its red color and carry oxygen to the tissues.
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White blood cells (white blood cells-leukocytes): These cells fight germs and protect the body against infections. In addition, these cells also perform the function of killing tumor cells.
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Platelets (thrombocytes): These are the cells that stop bleeding by clotting the blood.
Stem cells form the origin of all structures in the human body. Their most important feature is that they enable the formation, proliferation and repair of the tissue, as they can renew themselves rapidly. The body needs its own stem cells, for example, for liver, nerve tissue and blood.
Some people`s stem cells in the bone marrow become unable to make blood for a number of reasons. One of the treatment options for patients in this situation is to take the mother-stem cells that produce blood cells from healthy individuals and transfer them to the sick person. Thus, normal blood production is ensured in the patient.
Stem cell transplants are classified according to the source from which the stem cells are obtained or the person from whom the stem cells are obtained. According to the source, there are three forms: bone marrow, peripheral stem cell and cord blood transplantation. According to the person obtained; There are autologous (autograft) transplants, in which the person uses his own stem cells, and allogeneic (allografts), in which someone else`s stem cells are used.
In autologous stem cell transplantation, the stem cells taken are collected, frozen and given back to the person after administering high-dose chemotherapy. The main purpose of this procedure is to get rid of the side effects of high-dose chemotherapy and to kill possible tumor cells in the stem cells taken.
Allogeneic stem cell transplants can be done in two different ways. The first of these is the transplants made from identical twins ( syngeneic-isograft ), and the second is the transplants made from semi-matched mothers, fathers, siblings and children ( haploidentic ). Anyone between the ages of 2 and 60 whose tissue group antigens are compatible with the patient can be a donor for stem cell transplantation.
Diseases in which stem cell transplants are performed are leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma , some solid organ cancers, thalassemia and some immune system diseases.
