Bone Marrow Therapy | Advanced Cancer Therapies SunAct

What is Bone Marrow Therapy?

Stem cell or bone marrow therapy involves the transplantation of healthy stem cells into a patient’s body to replace damaged or diseased bone marrow.

Collection: Stem cells are collected either from the patient (autologous) or a donor (allogeneic).
Conditioning: The patient undergoes conditioning therapy, which includes high doses of chemotherapy and/or radiation.
Transplantation: The healthy stem cells are infused into the patient’s bloodstream.
Engraftment: The transplanted stem cells engraft in the bone marrow and start producing healthy blood cells.

Bone Marrow Transplants and Stem Cell Transplants follow nearly identical procedures, the key distinction is simply the source from which stem cells are harvested.
Bone Marrow Transplant: Stem cells are collected directly from the bone marrow (the soft tissue inside your bones) and then transplanted into the patient.
Stem Cell Transplant (Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplant): Stem cells are collected from the bloodstream, either yours or a donor’s and then transplanted.
Although the source of stem cells is different, the transplant process and purpose are essentially the same: to replace unhealthy bone marrow with healthy stem cells so your body can make normal blood cells again.

Source: Uses the patient’s own stem cells
Collection: Stem cells collected from the patient via peripheral blood or bone marrow
Conditioning: High-dose chemotherapy or radiation to eliminate diseased marrow
Infusion: Patient’s own stem cells are infused back
Engraftment: Stem cells migrate to bone marrow and regenerate blood cells
Risk of Rejection: Minimal, since cells are from the patient
Suitability: Best for patients needing high-dose chemo with stem cell rescue
Procedure Complexity: Moderate – involves collection, storage, and reinfusion of own cells
Common Uses: Lymphoma, Multiple Myeloma
Cost: Lower cost due to use of own cells
Success Factors: Dependent on patient health and disease sensitivity to chemo

Source: Uses stem cells from a healthy donor
Collection: Stem cells collected from a matched donor via peripheral blood or bone marrow
Conditioning: High-dose chemotherapy or radiation to prepare for donor cell engraftment
Infusion: Donor stem cells are infused into the patient
Engraftment: Donor cells engraft and rebuild the patient’s immune and blood system
Risk of Rejection: Higher risk, including Graft-Versus-Host Disease (GVHD)
Suitability: Ideal for patients with bone marrow failure or genetic blood disorders
Procedure Complexity: High – requires donor matching, immune suppression, and close monitoring
Common Uses: Leukemia, Aplastic Anemia, Thalassemia, Sickle Cell Anemia
Cost: Higher cost due to donor search, preparation, and long-term care
Success Factors: Dependent on donor match, patient health, and immune response