Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsReasons for an Autologous Stem Cell TransplantTypes of Autologous Stem Cell Transplant ProceduresBefore the ProcedureTransplant ProcessAfter the ProcedureSupport and Coping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Reasons for an Autologous Stem Cell Transplant
Types of Autologous Stem Cell Transplant Procedures
Before the Procedure
Transplant Process
After the Procedure
Support and Coping
Eric Kitayama / Getty Images
The stem cells may be harvested either from the blood, using anapheresisprocedure, or from the bone marrow, being aspirated using a long needle. The healthy stem cells (from the blood or bone marrow) are frozen and stored to be transplanted via infusion aftercancer treatment.
The primary advantage of having an autologous stem cell transplant is to avoid severe side effects from incompatibility as might happen with a donor transplant procedure. But a person must produce enough healthy bone marrow cells before an autologous stem cell transplant can be considered.
An autologous stem cell transplant replaces damaged bone marrow after chemotherapy or radiation is given to destroy cancer cells. A side effect of these treatments are that they destroy healthy cells as well. An autologous stem cell transplant replenishes the body with the vital new blood cells needed for life.
An autologous stem cell transplant is often used to treat specific types of cancer, such as various types of blood cancer, including:
Other conditions that may require an autologous stem cell transplant include:
Perhaps the most important advantage of stem cell transplants to treat cancer is that doctors can administer very high doses of chemotherapy (drugs that kill cancer cells) which would otherwise be too dangerous. When chemotherapy or radiation is given in very high dosages, the bone marrow is damaged, and a person is not able to make enough healthy blood cells.
Who Is Not a Good Candidate?
There is no specific age limit for a person in need of an autologous stem cell transplant; but in general, HDT (high dose therapy) and ASCT (autologous stem cell therapy) are recommended for those who are under age 65. This is because most of the clinical research has been done in the under 65 age group.However, there are exceptions to this general guideline.
One study found that in select patients (such as elderly people with multiple myeloma) ASCT is a viable option. The study authors report that the average age of a person who is diagnosed with multiple myeloma is 72 years old, therefore, older adults—over age 65—should NOT be excluded as candidates for autologous stem cell transplantation.
An autologous stem cell transplant isnotrecommended for those who have uncontrolled comorbidities, which is the presence of more than one chronic (long-term) disease at the same time.An example of a common comorbidity is when a person has diabetes and high blood pressure.
There are two methods for harvesting stem cells, either from the peripheral blood or from the bone marrow. The treatment goal of an autologous stem cell transplant and an autologous bone marrow transplant is the same—to replace the loss of healthy blood cells with new, transplanted stem cells. These new stem cells will give rise to each type of blood cell in the body, includingwhite blood cells,platelets(clotting cells) and red blood cells. The difference between the two procedures is basically how the stem cells are harvested.
In an autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplant, the healthy stem cells are taken from the blood in a process called apheresis.
An autologousbone marrow transplantinvolves taking stem cells directly from the bone marrow via a procedure called a bone marrow aspiration. A bone marrow aspiration involves inserting a long needle directly into the spongy tissue of the bone marrow, located in the middle of some bones.
Bone marrow harvesting is done less often than peripheral blood stem cell harvesting. It is sometimes the preferred method because there is a much higher concentration of stem cells in the bone marrow (as compared to the number of stem cells circulating in the blood).
One variation of an autologous stem cell transplant procedure is called the double autologous or tandem transplant. This involves having two stem cell transplant procedures back to back—within a six-month time span—after each round of chemotherapy. The healthy stem cells are collected before the initial high dose of chemotherapy or radiation is given. The healthy stem cells are reserved, then given after each course of chemo. Tandem autologous stem cell transplants are commonly indicated in cases where a person has multiple myeloma, or in advanced testicular cancer.
It’s important to note that not all medical experts agree on the benefits of giving two stem cell transplant procedures (as compared to just one).Tandem transplant outcomes are still being studied.
The screening process before an autologous stem cell transplant may include:
Steps that a person who is getting an autologous stem cell transplant may take to get ready for the procedure include:
Harvesting and Conditioning Procedures
Once a person has undergone the basic screening tests (which may last a few days) there are other steps that are necessary before the actual transplant procedure can be implemented.
You may take medications such as Mozobil (plerixafor injection) to help increase the number of circulating stem cells released from the bone marrow into the bloodstream. You will then undergo the harvesting procedure, either apheresis or bone marrow aspiration.
The bone marrow stem cell harvesting procedure is more involved. You will be scheduled for it to take place in an operating room and be under local or general anesthesia. A long needle is used to remove the stem cells from your hip bone, breastbone, or other sites. You will need to recover from anesthesia before returning home, and you may have some pain.
Next, you will undergo the conditioning process, which involves being administered high doses of chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy to kill the cancer cells. This can take two to eight days. You may have side effects from this treatment.
Chemotherapy Side Effects
In one to three days after the last dose of chemotherapy (or any time after the last radiation treatment) the actual stem cell transplant procedure will be scheduled.The transplant procedure itself is simple and painless (like a blood transfusion).
The procedure will take place in the hospital room and it takes around 45 minutes, depending on the volume of cells to be infused. Bone marrow transplants take much longer, up to a few hours.
The stem cells will be infused through a central line (a catheter inserted a large vein to allow for multiple procedures, such as drawing blood and infusing intravenous fluids and medications).
The nurse will keep a close eye on the blood pressure, temperature, pulse, and breathing rate, observing for side effects.
The recipient of an autologous stem cell transplant is awake during the entire procedure and can usually go home once it is complete (provided there are no complications or adverse reactions).
Side Effects
There are usually no side effects of an autologous stem cell transplant procedure,but occasionally patients report mild symptoms such as:
It’s common that the urine is slightly blood-tinged within the initial 24 hours after the procedure.If the urine remains blood-tinged after the 24-hour time span, it’s important to report it to the nurse or other healthcare provider on the transplant team.
Delayed Side Effects
Approximately one week after the transplantation procedure, many recipients experience mild symptoms, these may include:
These mild symptoms usually resolve themselves in about two to three weeks after the procedure at the blood count begins to return to normal.
Complications
More serious side effects after an autologous stem cell transplant may involve symptoms of infections such as:
Signs and symptoms of infection are the result of a low white blood cell count and must be reported to the members of the transplant team right away. Antibiotic therapy may be required.
Infection Prevention
The chemotherapy or radiation conditioning treatments destroy your body’s immune cells, and it takes time for the stem cell transplant to produce the white blood cells that fight infection.
It’s vital to try to avoid exposure to illnesses such as colds, chickenpox, herpes simplex (cold sores and genital herpes) shingles, or those who have recently been vaccinated with a live virus (such as chickenpox, rubella, or rotavirus vaccinations). If there is a known exposure to any of these types of viruses or infections, inform the transplant team members right away.
It’s important to take steps to prevent infection such as:
Prognosis
In a 2016 study of 85 lymphoma patients who received an autologous stem cell transplant procedure, the overall survival rate was around 65.7%. Those over 60 years of age were deemed to have a poor prognosis (predicted outcome).
Another study published in 2012found that the standard treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma relapse—involving high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation—resulted in a five-year survival rate in 50% to 60% of the study participants.
Overall, getting an autologous stem cell transplant can raise your chance of survival. In fact, according to the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, “It [stem cell transplantation] has boosted survival rates from nearly zero to more than 85 percent for some blood cancers.”
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Al hamed R, Bazarbachi AH, Malard F, Harousseau JL, Mohty M.Current status of autologous stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma.Blood Cancer J. 2019;9(4):44. doi:10.1038/s41408-019-0205-9American Cancer Society.Types of Stem Cell Transplants for Cancer Treatment.UCSF Health.Autologous Transplant Guide: Treatment and Side Effects.Memorial Slone Kettering Cancer Center.Returning Home After Your Autologous Stem Cell Transplant.Sylvia Faict, Nathan De Beule, Ann De Becker, Karel Fostier, Fabienne Trullemans and Henri (Rik) Schots.Long-term Survival and Quality of Life Analysis after Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for Lymphoma. Blood 128:2268Colpo A, Hochberg E, Chen YB.Current status of autologous stem cell transplantation in relapsed and refractory Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Oncologist. 2012;17(1):80-90.doi:10.1634/theoncologist.2011-0177Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.How bone marrow transplants save lives.Additional ReadingMayo Clinic Staff.Bone Marrow Transplant.MayoClinic.org.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Autologous Stem Cell Transplant: A Guide for Patients & Caregivers.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Al hamed R, Bazarbachi AH, Malard F, Harousseau JL, Mohty M.Current status of autologous stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma.Blood Cancer J. 2019;9(4):44. doi:10.1038/s41408-019-0205-9American Cancer Society.Types of Stem Cell Transplants for Cancer Treatment.UCSF Health.Autologous Transplant Guide: Treatment and Side Effects.Memorial Slone Kettering Cancer Center.Returning Home After Your Autologous Stem Cell Transplant.Sylvia Faict, Nathan De Beule, Ann De Becker, Karel Fostier, Fabienne Trullemans and Henri (Rik) Schots.Long-term Survival and Quality of Life Analysis after Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for Lymphoma. Blood 128:2268Colpo A, Hochberg E, Chen YB.Current status of autologous stem cell transplantation in relapsed and refractory Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Oncologist. 2012;17(1):80-90.doi:10.1634/theoncologist.2011-0177Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.How bone marrow transplants save lives.Additional ReadingMayo Clinic Staff.Bone Marrow Transplant.MayoClinic.org.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Autologous Stem Cell Transplant: A Guide for Patients & Caregivers.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Al hamed R, Bazarbachi AH, Malard F, Harousseau JL, Mohty M.Current status of autologous stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma.Blood Cancer J. 2019;9(4):44. doi:10.1038/s41408-019-0205-9American Cancer Society.Types of Stem Cell Transplants for Cancer Treatment.UCSF Health.Autologous Transplant Guide: Treatment and Side Effects.Memorial Slone Kettering Cancer Center.Returning Home After Your Autologous Stem Cell Transplant.Sylvia Faict, Nathan De Beule, Ann De Becker, Karel Fostier, Fabienne Trullemans and Henri (Rik) Schots.Long-term Survival and Quality of Life Analysis after Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for Lymphoma. Blood 128:2268Colpo A, Hochberg E, Chen YB.Current status of autologous stem cell transplantation in relapsed and refractory Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Oncologist. 2012;17(1):80-90.doi:10.1634/theoncologist.2011-0177Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.How bone marrow transplants save lives.
Al hamed R, Bazarbachi AH, Malard F, Harousseau JL, Mohty M.Current status of autologous stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma.Blood Cancer J. 2019;9(4):44. doi:10.1038/s41408-019-0205-9
American Cancer Society.Types of Stem Cell Transplants for Cancer Treatment.
UCSF Health.Autologous Transplant Guide: Treatment and Side Effects.
Memorial Slone Kettering Cancer Center.Returning Home After Your Autologous Stem Cell Transplant.
Sylvia Faict, Nathan De Beule, Ann De Becker, Karel Fostier, Fabienne Trullemans and Henri (Rik) Schots.Long-term Survival and Quality of Life Analysis after Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for Lymphoma. Blood 128:2268
Colpo A, Hochberg E, Chen YB.Current status of autologous stem cell transplantation in relapsed and refractory Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Oncologist. 2012;17(1):80-90.doi:10.1634/theoncologist.2011-0177
Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.How bone marrow transplants save lives.
Mayo Clinic Staff.Bone Marrow Transplant.MayoClinic.org.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Autologous Stem Cell Transplant: A Guide for Patients & Caregivers.
Mayo Clinic Staff.Bone Marrow Transplant.MayoClinic.org.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Autologous Stem Cell Transplant: A Guide for Patients & Caregivers.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
