BLOOD AND MARROW STEM CELL TRANSPLANTATION

Blood & Marrow Stem Cell Transplantation

What is a Stem Cell Transplant and What Can They Treat?

Hematopoietic Stem Cell (HSCT) / Bone Marrow Transplantation (BMT) is a lifesaving treatment for variety of diseases including Blood Cancers like Leukemia, Lymphoma, Myeloma etc, as well as benign disorders like Aplastic Anemia and Thalassaemia. Bone Marrow is the tissue inside the bones, which contains blood forming cells, known as Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSC).

BLOOD-AND-MARROW-STEM-CELL-TRANSPLANTATION

If this Bone Marrow malfunctions due to reasons like cancer (Leukemia), Thalassemia or Immunological causes (Aplastic Anemia) then deficiency of formed components of blood sets in, resulting in weakness, infections and bleeding ultimately leading to death. Bone Marrow or Hematopoietic Stem cell transplant is a procedure in which Diseased Marrow is replaced by Healthy Marrow or Hematopoietic Stem Cells.

How Do Stem Cell Transplants Work ?

A Transplant Process includes following phases- Stem Cell Collection from donor or patient, Conditioning with chemo-radiotherapy for the patient, stem Cell Infusion, pre-engraftment bone marrow suppression and post engraftment follow up. Average time taken prior to engraftment ranges from 3-4 weeks in the BMT unit. After that patient is discharged home on oral medications. Patients need to be in close regular follow up for first 3-6 months of transplant and advised to stay near the transplant centre.

Diseases for which a Bone Marrow Transplant is Recommended

Transplant for non-malignant conditions

Aplastic Anemia and other bone marrow failure syndromes

Thalassemia Major

Sickle Cell Anemia

Hemophagocytic Syndrome

There are many other disorders where a stem cell transplantation can be life saving like inborn errors of metabolism, congenital immunodeficiency disorders etc

Transplant for malignant (Cancer) conditions

Multiple Myeloma (MM)

Hodgkins & Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma

Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)

Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)

Myelofibrosis, Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), Chronic Myelo-Monocytic Leukemia (CMML) and other similar blood cancers

Neuroblastoma

Bone Marrow/ Stem Cell transplants being regularly conducted at RGCI&RC are:

Autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT)

Here the Stem Cells are collected from patients own blood. As mentioned above, ASCT is a treatment for patients with Multiple Myeloma, Lymphomas and Neuroblastoma mostly.

Allogeneic stem cell transplant

Here the stem cells are collected from a healthy donor. The donor is usually a family member who has HLA (Tissue antigens) matching with the patient. Depending upon relationship to patient and degree of HLA match, there can be different donor types:

Sources of hematopoietic stem cells

Autologous Versus Allogenic Transplant

Autologous Transplant involves using a patient’s own Hematopoietic Stem Cells. It is usually done for multiple Myeloma, Relapsed Hodgkin and Non Hodgkin Lymphoma and T Lymphoma. In this procedure a patient’s stem cells are first collected after achieving at least partial response in disease and then a very high dose of Chemotherapy is given to eradicate existing disease followed by reinfusion of collected stem cells to reestablish blood formation. In Allogenic Transplant Stem cells are collected from a healthy donor. This healthy donor is usually a sibling (related donor fully matched or haploidentical) or can be found from international donor registry (unrelated donor) or obtained from umbilical cord blood. Voluntary donor registries from India like DATRI are very active and have provided donors for multiple transplants.

Bone Marrow Transplant Procedure

A Transplant Process includes following phases- Stem Cell Collection from donor or patient, Conditioning with chemo-radiotherapy for the patient, stem Cell Infusion, pre-engraftment bone marrow suppression and post engraftment follow up. Average time taken prior to engraftment ranges from 3-4 weeks in the BMT unit. After that patient is discharged home on oral medications to prevent graft versus host disease and infections. Patients need to be in close regular follow up for first 3-6 months of transplant and advised to stay near the transplant centre. By one year post transplant, patient’s immune system recovers and most of the medicines can be stopped.

Side Effects

Side effects of transplant are due to Chemotherapy / Radiotherapy used in conditioning which is seen both in Autologous and Allogenic Transplants or Immunological Reaction known as graft versus host disease seen in Allogenic Transplants.

Whom to Contact

Transplant coordinator- +91-11-47022261, 47022279, 9654846677
Room Number 3259, 2nd Floor- D Block,
Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute & Research Centre,
Sector-5, Rohini, Delhi, India, 110085

Why to Choose RGCI&RC for A Bone Marrow Transplant?

Bone Marrow Transplant Program started in RGCI&RC in 2001 and since then approximately 1000 transplants have been performed, placing RGCI&RC among leading transplant centers in India. At present, on an average, we perform 125 transplants per year.
As of now, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute has a 21 bedded bone marrow transplant unit equipped with HEPA filters and a dedicated team of renowned hematologists and bone marrow transplant specialists along with a team of nursing staff trained and experienced in bone marrow transplantation. We have a dedicated hemato-pathology lab, molecular laboratory and round the clock blood bank services to support diagnostic and blood component needs of patients undergoing BMT.
Transplant is an expensive treatment and requires lot of resources but at RGCIRC, the cost of a transplant has been affordable as compared to other private sector hospitals and comparable to some of government hospital.
RGCIRC doctors and care teams never stop improving the care we deliver. Researchers who specialize in stem cell transplantation always work to reduce the complications of transplants.

Patient & Family

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Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre is today counted amongst Asia’s premier exclusive cancer centres that offer unique advantage of cutting edge technology, put to use by renowned super specialists. This potent combination of man and machine ensures world-class cancer care to not only patients from India, but also from the neighboring SAARC countries and others.

Sir Chotu Ram Marg, Sector - 5, Rohini Industrial Area, Rohini, New Delhi - 110085, India | +91-11-47022222
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OPD Timings: 09:00 am to 05:00 pm (All Weekdays except Sunday and Holiday)
Emergency Services: 24x7 All Weekdays

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