More about the Institute's approach to BMTs
For over 50 years, scientists and physicians performing BMTs have struggled to make BMTs safer. A breakthrough came in the 1970's, when cells in the bone marrow called T-cells were found to cause GVHD. Researchers found ways to remove T cells from donor bone marrow and found that they could, in fact, prevent GVHD. Unfortunately, removing T cells from the bone marrow also caused the marrow to not engraft in many patients, resulting in severe illness or death. It became accepted that GVHD could not be totally avoided and that only patients with a closely genetically matched donor could receive a BMT.Through the research of Dr. Ildstad and many others, the Institute will be able to offer a new approach to BMT. The newly developed technology removes T cells and other harmful cells from the bone marrow while keeping the stem cells and other important cells which help the marrow engraft and produce new, healthy blood and immune cells. After the bone marrow is removed (harvested) from the donor, it is treated, or "processed" to remove the unwanted cells while keeping the needed cells. This processing step may take 24 hours or longer but does not harm the bone marrow. After the processing is complete, the marrow is infused into the patient in the same way as a standard BMT.
More About Standard BMTsThis new approach has allowed Institute researchers and their colleagues to begin clinical trials to treat a number of diseases and conditions where the risks of standard BMT are too high. Patients with leukemia who do not have a closely genetically matched donor can be treated with this approach. Patients undergoing heart or kidney transplantation may be eligible for the tolerance protocols with the hope of decreasing or eliminating the need for powerful immunosuppressive drugs. Patients with sickle cell diseases and other red blood cell defects may have their anemia safely and permanently treated. Finally, patients with multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases may have their disease progression stopped by partial conditioning and chimerism.
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