Stem cell transplant

Stem cell transplant may be a treatment option for patients with hematologic (blood) cancers or for patients with other disorders of the immune or blood system. The goal of a stem cell transplant is to prolong (lengthen) disease remission or, in some cases, to cure the disease.

There are two types of stem cell transplant:

1. Autologous – the patient's own stem cells are collected, frozen and then returned to the patient after high dose chemotherapy is completed.

2. Allogeneic – stem cells are collected from a donor and infused into the patient once high dose chemotherapy, and sometimes radiation, is completed. The donor could be related or unrelated to the patient.

The high doses of chemotherapy damage the patient’s bone marrow and blood cells. The stem cells’ purpose is to rescue the patient from these effects, allowing for recovery, or, in the case of allogeneic stem cell transplant, to replace the patient’s immune system completely.

The type of transplant the patient undergoes is largely dependent upon the type of disease they have.

CAR T Therapy

Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR T) Therapy is a therapy in which immune cells called T cells are modified to be able to find and destroy cancer cells. T cells are collected from the patient and then sent to a manufacturing laboratory where they are modified and multiplied, giving them special receptors to detect disease. Once production of the cells is completed, they are returned to Saskatoon and the patient is admitted to hospital for chemotherapy treatment, followed by infusion of their new cells.

Eligibility

CAR T therapy is currently ONLY available to patients with specific blood cancers or lymphomas. It is also currently only available in Saskatchewan to residents of the province.

Questions?

For Saskatchewan Cancer Agency patients, we encourage you to speak to your health care team at your next scheduled visit to the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency.

For individuals that are not patients of the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency (living in Saskatchewan or elsewhere), please call our Quality of Care Coordinator at (639) 625-2061, or toll-free at 1 (866) 577-6489.

Important Note piece for stem cell page

Resources for New or Current Patients and Their Families

(click on the images below to watch the presentations or view the handbooks.)

Allogeneic Autologous





CAR - T

To watch the the presentations or download the patient handbooks, please click on the images above.

Each type of transplants require a lot of time, support and commitment. Transplant is an intensive treatment with many important steps. Review the presentation that matches the type of transplant you are considering or will be receiving for more information.