Stem Cell Transplants
- In the treatment of multiple myeloma, a stem cell transplant involves using the stem cells in the patient’s own blood to help them recover after chemotherapy.
- Before chemotherapy, stem cells are removed from the patient and frozen. Chemotherapy is then used to attack cancerous cells.
- After this treatment, the stem cells that were removed from the patient are re-infused into their body, where they enter the bone marrow and support the production of healthy blood cells.
"Following induction, in individuals that are eligible for a stem cell transplant, a referral should be made to a center that is experienced in and performs stem cell transplants for multiple myeloma," Dr. Ulrickson said.
Understanding Stem Cell Transplants
Read More- Autologous transplantation- when a patient’s own stem cells are collected before they undergo chemotherapy and then re-infused into their blood stream after chemotherapy
- Allogenic transplantation- when stem cells are contributed by a healthy donor
"They just are the blood making cells that live in the bone marrow, the same space where you had the biopsy that likely led to the diagnosis of multiple myeloma."
The Process
The first step of a stem cell transplant involves removing some of the patient's stem cells from his or her bone marrow. These cells are frozen and stored. Then, the person with multiple myeloma undergoes chemotherapy, which aims to kill off all cancer cells. The problem with chemotherapy, however, is that it can also harm healthy cells. After this treatment, the patient's original stem cells are re-infused into their body. These stem cells return to the bone marrow, where they resume making blood cells, helping the patient recover from the loss of cells they suffered during chemo.
RELATED: How Does a Stem Cell Transplant Work for Multiple Myeloma?
"The goal of a transplant is to get patients from the level of response that they had at the end of induction and make that response even better,” Dr. Ulrickson said.
The Limitations of Stem Cell Transplants
Dr. Ulrickson said that he is careful to manage patients' expectations going into a stem cell transplant. "There is a small percentage of patientsabout five to 10% in most studiesthat have ongoing response that can last for years and even decades. And so, while I hope for that for all patients, I will say that I set the expectation that at some point the disease comes back in an individual’s course after transplant with multiple myeloma."
As a healthcare provider, Dr. Ulrickson believes it is his role to help patients make well-informed decisions for themselves. For some, this might mean forgoing a stem cell transplant. "As a patient, you always have the ability to decide what you feel comfortable with. You should never feel pressured into a therapy," he said. "Our goal as a medical team should always be to help you understand why you would want to do a therapy, um, what the benefits are, what the risks are and help you as an individual decide what’s best for you."
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