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Autologous stem cell transplantation

Keywords:

= Intensive treatment and reinfusion of autologous stem cells.

Treatment with autologous stem cell transplantation refers to a form of cancer treatment where a patient receives a higher dose of chemotherapy than usual. The idea is that the higher the dose of medication, the better the treatment result (elimination of the cancer). When the dose of chemotherapy increases substantially, there is concomitantly a risk of profound bone marrow function depression. The tolerability of the patient to the intensive treatment can be improved by collecting stem cells from the patient in advance, before the intensive chemotherapy treatment is administered. The stem cells are a kind of “seeds” which renew and produce specialized blood cells. After the high (intensive) dose of chemotherapy has been administered, the stem cells are given back to the patient through an intravenous infusion. From there, the cells find their way back to the bone marrow where they grow and guarantee the production of new blood cells.

The goal of autologous stem cells transplantation is to cure the cancer or to slow the progression of the cancer so that the patient may enjoy a longer time free from disease. Autologous stem cell transplantation is an established form of treatment of myeloma, differentiated lymphomas and some solid malignant tumours. The timing of the autologous stem cell transplantation depends on the disease, but in practice the patient receives various cancer treatments to reduce the tumour burden before the actual transplantation is carried out.

Phases of autologous stem cell transplantation

Treatment facilities

Stem cell transplantation unit

At our unit we perform allogeneic as well as autologous stem cell transplantations.

Hematology Ward

At the hematology ward we examine and treat adult patients with hematological (blood) diseases.

Hematology Outpatient Clinic, T-Hospital

We examine and treat adult patients with hematological (blood) diseases.