Allogeneic Transplant Definition

An allogeneic transplant can be the best course of treatment for certain blood and bone marrow cancers and other illnesses.

Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant

Patients can qualify for an allogeneic stem cell transplant if they have:

• Leukemia - Cancer of the blood. Stem cell transplant is feasible for major types of leukemia such as Acute Myelogenous, Acute Lymphocytic, Chronic Myelogenous, and Chronic Lymphocytic.
• Malignant Lymphoma - Cancer of the lymphatic system
• Hodgkin’s Disease - Also called Hodgkin Lymphoma, is a cancer of the white blood cells
• Multiple Myeloma - Cancer in the plasma cells of the bone marrow
• Myelodysplastic Syndrome - A type of cancer that affects the bone marrow. Patients with MDS produce immature or abnormal blood cells in their bone marrow that do not fully develop into functioning blood cells.
• Myeloproliferative Disorder - or Myeloproliferative Neoplasms, is a group of blood cancers where the bone marrow makes too many blood cells (white, red, or platelets).
• Severe Aplastic Anemia - A rare and serious condition where the bone marrow can't produce enough new red and white blood cells and platelets.
• Immunodeficiencies - Conditions where the immune system is weakened to fight off infections and diseases. Classified into two main types: Primary and Secondary Immunodeficiencies
• Hemoglobin Disorders - Genetic disorders that affect hemoglobin production. Stem cell transplant is possible for patients with Sickle Cell Anemia and Thalassemia

Transplant Process

It is important to understand that a stem cell transplant is often a long and complicated process. It requires extensive preparation and a lot of follow-up care. The transplant process can be broken down into these nine different stages:

1. Preparing for your transplant
2. Pre-transplant evaluation
3. Conditioning therapy
4. Stem cell infusion
5. Pre-engraftment phase
6. Possible post-transplant complications
7. Potential late side effects
8. Recovery stage

Tissue Typing

To find the best donor for a stem cell transplant, tissue typing is done. For an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), the test is based on the human leukocyte antigens (HLA) which are markers on the surface of white blood cells. There are many HLA markers, and each person has a unique pattern of these markers. HLA markers are inherited from both parents, so close family members like siblings, parents, and children are more likely to have matching or partially matching HLA patterns.

However, people who aren’t related to each other can also be a close match. If the patient doesn’t match the tissue type with any family member, there are search coordinators who can look for an unrelated adult volunteer donor or umbilical cord blood units. The National Marrow Donor Program (formerly Be The Match) has millions of registered individuals who have been tissue-typed as donors. Finding a suitable one can take weeks or even months but in urgent cases, umbilical cord blood can be used instead since it’s more readily available.

Accredited Healthcare Centers

Allogeneic stem cell transplants are complex procedures with significant risks. However, these risks are minimized when the transplants are performed at accredited bone marrow transplant centers. This is why HSCT is only performed at specialized centers with extensive experience and a skilled medical team. Physicians, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, and other experts experienced in transplants are vital for ensuring patient safety and aftercare treatment.

Recovery and Side Effects

Even after the stem cells have successfully engrafted, it can take the body up to six months to return to normal functioning. While many side effects from a stem cell transplant are short-lived, some may last longer such as graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) which can persist for months and occasionally years after the transplant. Fortunately, allogeneic stem cell transplant survival rates have dramatically improved over the years with a 29.7% non-relapse mortality from 1980-1989 to 12.2% from 2010-2016.

Key Takeaway

Throughout the transplant journey, clear communication with the transplant team is crucial. If the patient experiences any issues, no matter how minor, it’s important to inform a member of the transplant team. This includes both physical and emotional concerns. Addressing small problems early on can prevent them from becoming larger issues. The more information the transplant team receives, the better they can support the patient.

It is a journey where we are all part of the same team to battle and cure blood cancer!