Autologous Transplant Patient Education Manual - Moores Cancer ...

Allogeneic Transplantation
Allogeneic means the donor is a person other than the patient. Donor selection is based on
shared genetic tissue typing with the patient known as Human Leukocyte Antigen or HLA
typing.
HLA markers serve as a kind of genetic finger print which enables the body’s immune
system to recognize its own cells. The genes occur in pairs, with one part of each pair being
from each parent (mother and father). Therefore, the search for a matched donor begins
with the immediate family. HLA typing is done using blood samples from the patient and
the donors.
The donor is usually a brother or sister (sibling) or a parent or child which is rare. Once a
sibling donor has been found, he or she is asked to donate, and bone marrow or stem cells
are collected. It is important to mention that the donor’s supply of cells will be replenished
as bone marrow constantly makes stem cells.
Once donor collection is done, the patient receives the preparative regimen assigned by the
BMT doctor. After the regimen, the cells are returned as discussed above.
Allogeneic patients are also placed on drugs that suppress the immune system called
immunosuppressants to prevent rejection of the donor’s cells which can create a problem
called Graft versus Host Disease (GVHD).
Matched Unrelated Transplants (MUDs)
This is a type of allogeneic transplant that is done when a related donor cannot be found. In
this case, a very close HLA matched donor is found using the National Marrow Donor
Program (NMDP) data base.
There are many donor centers in the United States, Europe and Asia who tissue type those
who wish to become donors. These potential anonymous donors are typed, just as your
relatives might be. The results are then placed in a data base with those of thousands of
other possible donors. Successful unrelated transplants occur frequently today as many
people share similar genetic backgrounds. There are also an increased number of donors
enrolled in the NMDP which increases the chance to find an unrelated donor with a similar
genetic type.
Cord Blood Transplants – Used when an unrelated donor cannot be found.
This refers to the blood stem cells from umbilical cords. Like bone marrow, umbilical cord
blood is rich in stem cells. It is collected from the placenta and cord after a baby is born.
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