Transplantation of Stem Cells – A Good Therapy
The transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells a cure for cancer really is nowadays established as a therapy for a wide variety of congenital or even acquired severe disorders of the hematopoietic system as well as for chemo or even radio sensitive malignancies.
Stem cell storage can be done using a stem cell bank or cord blood bank.
The transplantation includes autologous and allogeneic transplants of hematopoietic stem cells from bone marrow or cord blood. . Donors for allogeneic transplants can be identical siblings or other family members.
Over the last decade, a lot has been experienced by different companies. Convincing results and reduction in transplant related mortality have opened up new indications and increased patient age which led to an expansion in Europe.
This is best illustrated by the annual activity surveys of the European group for blood and marrow transplantation which was introduced in the nineties. A total of over four thousand transplants were reported and all bone marrow derived. Major changes have taken place and stem cell source has been expanded .This rapid development of the European group has not remained unchallenged. Major concerns have been issued concerning the value of autologous cells which has decreased.
The annual survey provides a tool to monitor changes in activity for individual indications and allows scientists to observe trends in participating European countries.
In January 2000, all the members of the group were requested to report by questionnaire. The same questionnaire was used as in 1998. Identical information was sought from non members who were known to investigators to be performing transplants. Such information was given to the activity survey office by national organizations, neighboring teams or hospital administrators.