Bone marrow transplantation
High doses of chemotherapy or
radiation destroy not only cancer cells but also bone marrow, which is rich in
blood-forming stem cells. In order to replace damaged marrow, stem cells are
harvested from either the blood or the bone marrow of the cancer patient before
therapy; cells also may be taken from a genetically compatible donor. In order
to remove unwanted cells, such as tumour cells, from the sample, it is
incubated with antibodies that bind only to stem cells. The fluid that contains
the selected cells is reduced in volume and frozen until needed. The fluid is
then thawed, diluted, and reinfused into the patient’s body. Once in the
bloodstream, the stem cells travel to the bone marrow, where they implant
themselves and begin producing healthy cells.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
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