Blood and Marrow Transplantation
Blood and marrow transplantation is a treatment modality which
uses bone marrow stem cells, harvested from the patient, to regenerate
blood and other tissues which have been damaged by the disease or
as side affects of other treatments. First, the marrow stem cells
are "lured" from the marrow by a series of special solutions
added to the bloodstream. The cells are then separated from the
blood using selective filtering techniques. Following a high-dose
radiation or chemotherapy treatment, these same cells are reintroduced
into the bloodstream and subsequently re-colonize into the bone
marrow where they begin the regeneration of blood and other cells.
For more information on how researchers at Brown Cancer Center
are exploring new therapeutic uses for stem cells, go to the Developmental
Biology Research Program page.
Bone marrow transplantation, in conjunction with the other treatment
modalities, is already established as a viable treatment for diseases
such as leukemia, Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, breast cancer
and aplastic anemia. The inter-modality relationship of the Blood
and Marrow group with the other treatment modalities at Brown Cancer
Center have segued into an open forum for the development of new
techniques and applications for blood and marrow transplantation.
In cooperation with the Developmental Biology and other research
programs at Brown, the group participates in clinical trials for
the treatment of a variety of diseases. Patients with life-threatening
conditions like leukemia, autoimmune disorders, red blood cell diseases,
and enzyme deficiencies will likely be the first to benefit from
this research.
The Brown Cancer Center Blood and Marrow Transplant Group maintains
a 19-bed specialty care unit within the University Hospital. Each
patient’s room is equipped with a restroom and sleeping area
for family members. All rooms have complete monitoring systems that
allow our staff to continually check each patient’s heart
rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation. For extended stays,
patients and their families can take advantage of a separate family
room, complete with a kitchen, television, and washer/dryer. A HEPA-filtered
air handling system and special flooring reduces dust and protect
patients who are in isolation.
When a patient does not have a family member that is an adequate match for transplant, the physicians and staff turn to the NMDP for assistance. The NMDP registers individuals ages 18 to 60 as potential donors on the national registry. Donors must also meet other medical guidelines. For more information about joining the registry or organizing a donor drive, please call the NMDP Registry at 1.800.MARROW2 or www.marrow.org.