Recent advances in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

F1000Res. 2017 Jun 12:6:870. doi: 10.12688/f1000research.11233.1. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), once used as a last-resort therapy, is now considered a lifesaving procedure for thousands of patients with life-threatening diseases worldwide and is frequently used early in the course of treatment for diseases destined to be uncontrollable by non-HCT therapies. Incremental advances leading to reduction of post-transplant morbidity and mortality by better control of graft versus host disease (GVHD), infections, and regimen-related toxicities, coupled with greater donor options, not only significantly increased the utilization and success of this procedure but also allowed many of these patients to enjoy healthy and productive lives after HCT. Emerging concepts in the field are now focused on the expansion of available donor options, further reduction of transplant-related toxicity, and decrease in post-transplant relapse.

Keywords: GVHD; HCT; Hematopoietic stem cell; graft versus host; hematopoietic stem cell transplant; transplant toxicity.

Publication types

  • Review

Grants and funding

The author(s) declared that no grants were involved in supporting this work.