The dedicated physicians and staff of Blumenthal Cancer Center have developed an innovative and exciting approach to stem cell disease: the Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplant (PBSCT).

Peripheral stem cell transplant is a highly effective treatment for certain cancers of the blood including leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkins and non-Hodgkins disease. PBSCT is also used to treat cancer types that have otherwise been incurable. The program was established through a close collaboration with the Bone Marrow Transplantation and Stem Cell Biology Program at Barnes-Jewish Hospital at Washington University Medical Center.

Am I Qualified?
Stem cell transplant generally becomes an option when standard cancer treatments have failed. Upon referral from their physicians, patients' medical records are evaluated by the PBSCT team. Patients in the program will undergo both inpatient and outpatient treatment, as well as follow-up treatments by their physician or homehealth agency.
 
What is the Treatment Process?
Autologous (meaning, "transferred from same individual's body") peripheral blood stem cell transplant consists of several related steps:

   1. Outpatient clinic consultation and eligibility testing
   2. Placement of a vascular access device and mobilization of peripheral blood stem cells
   3. Collection of peripheral blood stem cells
   4. High-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplant
   5. Post transplant outpatient care

Stem cells originate in bone marrow and grow into platelets needed to form blood clots, white blood cells needed to fight infections and red blood cells that carry oxygen. High-dose chemotherapy kills cancer cells, but chemo also kills bone marrow. Without bone marrow, there are no stem cells.

PBSCT allows patients to grow new bone marrow. The first step in the process is called "mobilization", in which physicians increase the number of circulating stem cells. These extra stem cells are collected and stored at a very low temperature. When the patient arrives for transplant, the stem cells are thawed and given back to the patient by transfusion. Once the stem cells are reinfused into the bloodstream, they return "home" to the bone marrow and begin to produce mature red cells, white cells and platelets.

Stem Cell Transplant Team
The PBSCT team is specially trained in the care of patients receiving high-dose chemotherapy and stem cells. These skilled doctors, nurses and research clinicians will help patients and their family members through every phase of the treatment process.

The American Red Cross (ARC) works closely with the PBSCT team to ensure the highest quality collection and storage of stem cells. The collection process is called apheresis. It's a painless procedure by which blood is drawn from a patient's arm, circulated through a machine that removes certain components, then returned to the patient. This process is done on an outpatient basis in the Cancer Center by the ARC and then the stem cells are processed and stored at an ARC facility. When a patient is ready for the re-infusion, the ARC brings the product to the patient's room on the day of the procedure.

For more information, please call 704-355-2884 or 800-804-9376.