Stem cells help in the fight against leukemia

02/24/2014

Stem cells play a key role in the process of renewal of the body and are therefore considered an important component in the cure of serious blood disorders, including leukemia. In the therapy required for treatment, the radiation ensures that stem cells are completely destroyed in the bone marrow, after which healthy stem cells must be used again at that very spot. Voluntary donors are in demand to receive these because they can make a significant contribution to the success of the therapy by providing adequate blood sampling.

The peripheral stem cell transplantation
Stem cells are obtained either directly from the bloodstream or from the bone marrow. The first variant is called peripheral stem cell transplantation, whereby the donor is given a growth factor in advance, which increases the number of stem cells. These then pass into the blood and can be removed with a method called apheresis. However, two venous accesses are necessary for the removal, through which the blood is led out and back into the body.

The bone marrow transplant
By contrast, bone marrow transplantation is performed under general anesthesia, with approximately 1 liter of bone marrow blood mixture being taken from the pelvic floor. However, since this method is far more expensive than the peripheral method, it is only occasionally used. The chances of success of both options depend on a variety of factors, in particular the different tissue characteristics of the donor are crucial and must be consistent with those of the recipient.

Store instead of donate?
Not only the donation of stem cells is a possibility of modern medicine, also the storage can be financed meanwhile. It is not so much a matter of supporting sick people, but to store an early protection for their own offspring. The storage of umbilical cord blood is a quick intervention after birth, in which the midwife simply pushes the blood out of the umbilical cord, completely painless and without any disadvantages. Since the stem cells are so young, hardly any damaging genetic material has accumulated in them. Many parents are already taking advantage of the attractive storage option to provide their offspring with endogenous cells in the event of illness, thereby preventing any delayed infection or intolerance. Companies like Seracell offer uncomplicated intervention and enable storage for decades. The process certainly can not cause harm, but it is currently difficult to see exactly how the stem cells can be used someday and whether they fulfill their purpose. (Pm)

Source: Stem Cells © Sven Hoppe - Fotolia.com