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CancerQuest > Introduction to Patient Information > An Introduction to Cancer Treatments > Introduction to Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) > BMT: Conditions Treated

BMT: Conditions Treated

Conditions Treated with Stem Cell Transplants

Immune Cell and Inherited Disorders
Some children are born with an inability to make certain kinds of blood cells (lymphocytes), leaving them susceptible to life-threatening infections. These children can be treated with stem cell transplants. They have a good chance of successful transplant because their immune system is already deficient. This reduces the need for intensive pretreatment and the chance of rejection and graft versus host disease (GVHD, learn more) is much lower.

Children born with inherited blood disorders, such as sickle cell disease and thalassemia, are now considered for transplants. These conditions are generally not life-threatening and in the past bone marrow transplantation was considered too risky. Because of the advances and increased success rate of transplants this option is now available to these patients.

Leukemia, Lymphoma, Myeloma
Leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma are the most common cancers treated with bone marrow transplants and stem cell transplantation. The following is a list of the subtypes of these cancers that are treated with BMT/SCT:

• acute myelogenous leukemia⁽¹⁾
• adult acute lymphocytic leukemia⁽¹⁾
• childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia (very high risk, no remission, or relapse)⁽¹⁾
• chronic lymphocytic leukemia⁽¹⁾
• chronic myelogenous leukemia⁽¹⁾
• Hodgkin lymphoma (if no longer responds to treatment or returns)⁽¹⁾
• idiopathic myelofibrosis (agnogenic myeloid metaplasia)
• lymphoma (if refractory to treatment or recurrent)⁽¹⁾
• myelodysplastic syndrome (oligoblastic myelogenous leukemia)⁽¹⁾
• myeloma⁽¹⁾

References for this page:

1. Chaidos A, Kanfer E, Apperley JF."Risk assessment in haemotopoietic stem cell transplantation: disease and disease stage."Best Pract Res Clin Haematol. 2007 Jun;20(2):125-54. [PUBMED]