In this presentation, Dr. David Greene Arizona discusses Stem Cells and Bone Marrow. A stem cell or bone marrow transplant replaces damaged blood cells with healthy ones. It can be used to treat conditions affecting the blood cells, such as leukaemia and lymphoma.

1. STEM CELL AND BONE MARROW
Dr. David Greene Arizona

2. Stem cells are special cells produced by
bone marrow (a spongy tissue found in
the centre of some bones) that can turn
into different types of blood cells.
The 3 main types of blood cell they can
become are:
• red blood cells – which carry oxygen
around the body
• white blood cells – which help fight
infection
• platelets – which help stop bleeding

3. WHY ARE STEM CELL TRANSPLANTS CARRIED OUT?
Stem cell transplants are used to treat conditions in
which the bone marrow is damaged and is no longer
able to produce healthy blood cells.
Transplants can also be carried out to replace blood
cells that are damaged or destroyed as a result of
intensive cancer treatment.

4. CONDITIONS THAT STEM CELL TRANSPLANTS CAN BE USED
TO TREAT INCLUDE:
• severe aplastic anaemia (bone marrow failure)
• leukaemia – a type of cancer affecting white blood
cells
• lymphoma – another type of cancer affecting white
blood cells
• myeloma – cancer affecting cells called plasma
cells
• certain blood, immune system and metabolic
disorders – examples include sickle cell anaemia,
thalassaemia, severe combined immunodeficiency
(SCID) and Hurler syndrome

5. A stem cell transplant will
usually only be carried out if
other treatments have not
helped, the potential benefits
of a transplant outweigh the
risks and you're in relatively
good health, despite your
underlying condition.

6. WHAT DOES A STEM CELL TRANSPLANT INVOLVE?
A stem cell transplant can involve taking healthy stem
cells from the blood or bone marrow of one person –
ideally a close family member with the same or similar
tissue type (see below) – and transferring them to
another person. This is called an allogeneic transplant.
It's also possible to remove stem cells from your own
body and transplant them later, after any damaged or
diseased cells have been removed. This is called an
autologous transplant.

7. A STEM CELL TRANSPLANT HAS 5 MAIN STAGES. THESE ARE:
• Tests and examinations – to assess your general level
of health
• Harvesting – the process of obtaining the stem cells to
be used in the transplant, either from you or a donor
• Conditioning – treatment with chemotherapy and/or
radiotherapy to prepare your body for the transplant
• Transplanting the stem cells
• Recovery

8. Thank You