Recent trends in Bone Marrow Transplants

Verified by Dr. Punit Jain- Consultant Hematology, Hemato-Oncology, Lead Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai.

• Advancements in stem cell collection and preservation: Stem cell collections are a one-day procedure enabling more people / donors to donate their stem cells. This process of stem cell harvest can be done using peripheral venous system and not necessarily always need a bone marrow harvest. Stem cells can be preserved for a more extended period using cryopreservation techniques and freezing the stem cells.
• Use of non-myeloablative conditioning regimens: Reduced intensity conditioning is a milder, less toxic form of chemotherapy before a bone marrow transplant. This approach allows older and sicker patients to undergo bone marrow transplants with reduced risks of side effects.
• Development of more accurate HLA matching techniques: HLA matching is essential in bone marrow transplants to reduce the risk of rejection in recipients. Advanced techniques such as next-generation sequencing (NGS) and high-resolution typing have significantly improved the accuracy of HLA matching.
• Advancements in immunosuppressive therapy: Immunosuppressive therapy prevents graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in bone marrow transplant patients. New drugs with fewer side effects and improved efficacy have been developed. Use of drugs like cyclophosphamide has helped reduce GVHD in haploidentical transplants, making it more accessible for patients needing allotransplant and lacking a matched sibling donor.
• Use of haploidentical donors: Haploidentical donors (half matched bone marrow donors), have emerged as an essential source of stem cells for bone marrow transplants. It has expanded the donor pool, making transplantation accessible to more patients.

In conclusion, bone marrow transplants have come a long way since their inception. Emerging trends in stem cell collection, preservation, and transplantation have improved bone marrow transplants’ safety and efficacy, making it a viable treatment option for many patients.

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