Texas Transplant Institute^**'s Adult Stem Cell Transplant Program offers state-of-the-art adult stem cell transplantation and outstanding patient care.

The transplant specialists at Texas Transplant Institute have extensive experience with all types of adult stem cell transplantation:

Autologous

• Stem cells are taken from the patient, stored and re-infused following treatment with chemotherapy and/or radiation
• A double or tandem autologous transplant involves two transplants about three to six months apart using stem cells harvested one time

Allogeneic

• Stem cells are taken from another person—either a related or unrelated donor or from umbilical cord blood
• Unrelated donors are generally found through the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP)

In our outpatient clinic, we offer:

• Bone marrow biopsies
• Catheter placements
• Chemotherapy infusions
• Transfusions
• Stem cell infusion
• and other procedures

Indications for Treatment:

Bone marrow and stem cell transplants can be performed to treat the following diseases and conditions:

• Aplastic anemia
• Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
• Leukemia—acute and chronic
• Multiple myeloma
• Myelodysplastic syndrome
• Testicular cancer

The Process

For a more detailed review of the Transplantation Process, please refer to our Adult Stem Cell Transplantation Education materials:  Adult Stem Cell Transplant Education where you’ll also find useful tips, resources and other information about our adult stem cell transplantation program.

Pre-Transplant >>

The patient is referred to Texas Transplant Institute for evaluation.

The transplant clinic contacts the patient and the referring physician to discuss expectations and schedule a visit.

A transplant financial coordinator verifies the patient’s insurance coverage and creates a financial plan to cover the transplant services. Social workers also provide assistance to patients to minimize any out-of-pocket costs associated with the transplantation.

At the first visit to the clinic, the patient meets the transplant physician and receives more in-depth information about transplantation from the transplant team. At this visit, the patient also meets with a bone marrow transplant coordinator who helps with the scheduling of tests, communication with the referring oncologist's office, scheduling of the stem cell collections and identification of potential donors.

After careful review of the patient’s medical records, diagnostic test results and the transplant physician’s assessment, the patient may be recommended for transplantation.

The transplant physician and research nurse may discuss available clinical trials.

Prior to collection of stem cells or admission for transplant, most patients will have another pre-transplant visit for final coordination of collection of the stem cells, chemotherapy administration and transplant. Your physician and the research nurse will give you additional information about available clinical trials and possible enrollment.

Transplant >>

For autologous transplantation, the patient's stem cells are collected two to four weeks before the transplant.

For allogeneic transplantation, the patient is followed by the referring physician and the transplant team until a suitable donor is located. At that point, a donor search begins. Once a donor is found, the patient is re-evaluated to ensure their medical condition is still adequate to receive a transplant.

Prior to the transplant, the patient receives chemotherapy and/or radiation. The transplant procedure is similar to a blood infusion and can last between 10 minutes and two hours depending on the type of transplant.

Some transplant patients are hospitalized during this process. The duration of the hospital stay depends largely on the patient’s condition and type of transplant.

(For more information about chemotherapy and hair loss, click on this link Chemo & Hair Loss.)

Post-Transplant >>

 
Patients can expect to have side effects immediately preceding and following the transplantation:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Weakness
• Lack of appetite
• Hair loss
• Mouth sores
• Difficulty swallowing
• Infections

It may take several weeks to months for patients to resume normal activities after the transplant. Regular, gradual activity is strongly recommended, as tolerated, so energy and strength can be quickly restored.

The risks of infection and rejection are often significant in the first month following the transplant, especially if the patient must take immunosuppressive drugs to prevent rejection of the newly-transplanted stem cells. Certain measures may help reduce the risk of infection:

• Avoid large crowds
• Avoid contact with unhealthy people
• Wear a mask
• Practice thorough hygiene (handwashing, bathing/showering, etc.)

Patients who receive an allogeneic stem cell transplant may risk developing Graft Versus-Host Disease (GVHD) - where the new bone marrow cells fight against the patient's own tissues. Immunosuppressive, or "anti-rejection" drugs, are prescribed to prevent GVHD and must be taken exactly as prescribed.

Regular clinic follow-up appointments will be required for a period of time determined by the transplant team.

The specialists at Texas Transplant Institute's Adult Stem Cell Transplant Program are always available to answer questions and provide assistance before, during and after transplantation.