Bone Marrow Transplant and Stem Cell Transplant

Types

Allogeneic transplant

An allogeneic transplant is performed by infusing stem cells, healthy cells that renew and repair tissue, into your body from one of your relatives or an unrelated donor. When the donor is a person's identical twin, the transplant is called syngeneic.

• Reduced-intensity transplant (nonmyeloablative). This type of allogeneic transplant uses a less intense regimen than does the chemotherapy (and sometimes radiation) that is typically used before a high-dose (myeloablative) blood and marrow stem cell transplant. This form of conditioning prepares your body for the procedure, but it is appropriate for only select people. This strategy relies more on the ability of the donor cells to kill the cancerous (malignant) cells and less on the intensity of the preparative regimen.

Autologous transplant

An autologous transplant is performed by using stem cells from your own body to replenish its supply of healthy blood-forming cells after high-dose chemotherapy or radiation.