Bone Marrow Transplant

Autologous Bone Marrow Transplant

In some cases, a patient can provide healthy immature cells (stem cells) from his or her body for a transplant later. This self-donation of stem cells is called an autologous blood or marrow transplant.

For autologous BMT to be successful, the marrow must be relatively free of disease when it is harvested. Depending on the disease being treated, healthy stem cells may be frozen for storage and transplanted later. In most cases, transplant occurs after the patient has received chemotherapy and perhaps radiation treatment — to clear the body of disease before proceeding with BMT.

People with acute myelogenous leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, Non-Hodgkin lymphomas, multiple myeloma, amyloidosis and a variety of solid tumors may benefit from an autologous blood or marrow transplant.