Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation And Cellular Therapy
Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) and cellular therapy involve the use of cells (stem cells) from the bone marrow, blood, or umbilical cord to treat a variety of medical conditions. These procedures have the potential to restore the function of the immune system, regenerate damaged tissue, and provide a potentially curative treatment for certain diseases.
Stem cells
HCT is a type of stem cell transplantation that involves the infusion of hematopoietic stem cells, which are cells that give rise to all of the different types of blood cells in the body. These stem cells can be harvested from the bone marrow, peripheral blood, or umbilical cord blood, and are then transplanted into a patient who has received high-dose chemotherapy or radiation treatment to destroy their diseased bone marrow or cancer cells. The transplanted stem cells then begin to produce new, healthy blood cells and restore the function of the immune system.
HCT uses
HCT is used to treat a variety of medical conditions, including leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and other blood disorders. It is also used as a treatment for certain inherited immune system disorders, such as severe combined immune deficiency (SCID), and for some inherited metabolic disorders, such as Hurler syndrome.
Cellular therapy
Cellular therapy involves the use of various types of cells, such as T cells, B cells, or natural killer cells, to treat medical conditions. These cells can be collected from the patient or a donor and modified in a laboratory setting before being infused back into the patient.
CAR modifications
One example of cellular therapy is CAR-T cell therapy, which involves the modification of a patient's T cells to express a special protein called a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR). These modified T cells are then infused back into the patient and are able to recognize and attack cancer cells that express a specific antigen. CAR-T cell therapy has been successful in treating certain types of leukemia and lymphoma, and is being explored as a treatment for other types of cancer as well.
Specialists
HCT and cellular therapy are complex and potentially life-saving procedures that are performed by specialists in the field of hematology and oncology. These procedures require careful planning and close monitoring to ensure the safety and success of the treatment.
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