Bone Marrow Transplant

Florida Center for Cellular Therapy

Replacing unhealthy cells with healthy ones through bone marrow transplants

The Florida Center for Cellular Therapy at the Florida Hospital Cancer Institute, has performed more than 350 blood and marrow transplants, providing successful therapy and treatment for a variety of conditions including aplastic anemia, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, bone marrow failure syndromes, germ cell tumors and neuroblastoma.

In diseases such as these, the bone marrow is unhealthy. In a bone marrow transplant, cells called stem cells normally found in the bone marrow are taken out, filtered, and given back to the patient to repopulate as healthy cells. The stem cells can come from the patient's own body, or from a donor.

The Florida Center for Cellular Therapy is nationally recognized for our pioneering work in this kind of procedure; we are Central Florida's first and only comprehensive bone marrow transplant center for both adult and pediatric patients.

We've made improved immune systems possible for hundred of patients with blood-related cancers since 1996.

The Florida Center for Cellular Therapy at the FHCI has been performing transplants to treat blood-related cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma for more than a decade. We offer a specialized 10-bed pediatric and adult bone marrow transplant unit at Florida Hospital Orlando. We are there to support you every step of the way in the transplant process, from initial consultation with your primary physician or oncologist through treatment and follow-up.

There are two types of bone marrow transplants

Our team is specially trained to handle both autologus transplants-where the patient's own marrow or stem cells are used, and allogenic transplants-where a donor provides the bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells.

In an allogenic bone marrow transplant, the donor must be another person whose tissue has the same genetic type as the person needing the transplant. Because tissue types are inherited, similar to hair or eye color, it is more likely that the recipient will find a suitable donor in a brother or sister. If donor and recipient are compatible, these infused cells will then travel to the bone marrow and initiate blood cell production.

If a family member does not match the recipient, the National Marrow Donor Program Registry database is searched for someone whose tissue type is a close match.

Bone marrow transplant from the patient's perspective

Usually the patient will receive high doses of chemotherapy and/or radiation to eliminate the unhealthy bone marrow. The new stem cells are injected intravenously, like a blood transfusion; they then find their way to the bone and start to grow and produce more cells.

The collection process from the donor's perspective

Cells are collected from the backside of the pelvic bone using a special syringe. Prior to having the procedure, donors receive local or general anesthesia so no pain is experienced during the marrow extraction. The procedure is minimally invasive and does not require stitches afterwards. Depending on the donor health and reaction to the procedure, the actual collection of stem cells can be an outpatient procedure, or may require one or two days of recovery in the hospital.

Donors can expect to feel discomfort in their lower back and may experience side effects from the anesthesia, such as nausea, sore throat or light headedness. The marrow completely regenerates within a few weeks.

Would you like to become a donor?

Anyone between over 18 and under 60 years of age, and in good health, can become a bone marrow donor. You'll find all the information you need at the National Marrow Donor Program website (click here or go to www.marrow.org). You can join a donor drive in your area or go to a local Donor Center to have the blood test done.

When you volunteer, your particular blood tissue traits are recorded in a registry. Your tissue type is different than your A, B, or O blood type. The Registry record will also contain your contact information, should a tissue type match be made.

New advances are made every day

Treatments have advanced significantly over the last decade, and there are many treatments still being tested. Clinical trials allow specialists to test improved treatment options in a controlled environment. By working with the FHCI Clinical Research Center, the Florida Center for Cellular Therapy helps our patients access the latest clinical trials and medications otherwise not available.

If you or a loved one may be a candidate for a bone marrow transplant, call us at (407) 303-2070.