About stem cell transplantation
Around 2,000 people in the UK need a haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) each year. This is usually their last chance of survival.
Stem cell transplant is used to treat:
Stem cell transplants are usually recommended for patients whose disease has not responded adequately to other forms of treatment, or those with a low probability of long-term cure with other treatment alone. In each individual case, the decision to transplant is based on the risks of transplant complications.
Sources of stem cells
Each year, around 60% of all HSCT are autologous - using the patient's own stem cells. The other 40% are allogeneic, using stem cells from a related donor (30%), or in the majority of cases (70%) from an unrelated donor or cord blood unit.
When an unrelated donor or cord blood donation is required, a search of the Anthony Nolan and NHS Stem Cell Registry is initiated. The Registry accesses the combined database of the Anthony Nolan, British Bone Marrow Registry, Welsh Bone Marrow Donor Registry, Delete Blood Cancer, Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service and Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service adult volunteer donors and cord blood units. If necessary, Anthony Nolan will also conduct a search of international registers, representing a global network of over 22 million adult donors and around 500,000 publicly available cord blood donations.
Adult stem cell donations are collected from the blood or bone marrow of registered volunteers as need occurs, while cord blood units are preserved from the collection shortly after birth of the stem cell rich blood drained from the umbilical cord, which is usually discarded.
The unmet need in stem cell transplantation
Currently, only 60% of transplant recipients receive the best possible match from an unrelated donor. This drops to 20.5% if the patient is from a black, Asian or ethnic minority (BAME) background.
It is therefore crucial to both grow and diversify the Anthony Nolan and NHS Stem Cell Registry , and the Anthony Nolan and NHS Cord Blood Bank, to ensure that every patient in need of a transplant has the best possible chance of finding a match.
Useful information sources:
Anthony Nolan
NHS Blood and Transplant
British Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation
World Marrow Donor Association (WMDA)
Human Tissue Authority
Delete Blood Cancer
Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research
African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust (ACLT)
Stem cell transplant is used to treat:
- Severe aplastic anaemia (bone marrow failure)
- Leukaemia (cancer of the white blood calls)
- Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (cancer of the lymphatic system)
- Certain genetic blood and immune system disorders
Stem cell transplants are usually recommended for patients whose disease has not responded adequately to other forms of treatment, or those with a low probability of long-term cure with other treatment alone. In each individual case, the decision to transplant is based on the risks of transplant complications.
Sources of stem cells
Each year, around 60% of all HSCT are autologous - using the patient's own stem cells. The other 40% are allogeneic, using stem cells from a related donor (30%), or in the majority of cases (70%) from an unrelated donor or cord blood unit.
When an unrelated donor or cord blood donation is required, a search of the Anthony Nolan and NHS Stem Cell Registry is initiated. The Registry accesses the combined database of the Anthony Nolan, British Bone Marrow Registry, Welsh Bone Marrow Donor Registry, Delete Blood Cancer, Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service and Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service adult volunteer donors and cord blood units. If necessary, Anthony Nolan will also conduct a search of international registers, representing a global network of over 22 million adult donors and around 500,000 publicly available cord blood donations.
Adult stem cell donations are collected from the blood or bone marrow of registered volunteers as need occurs, while cord blood units are preserved from the collection shortly after birth of the stem cell rich blood drained from the umbilical cord, which is usually discarded.
The unmet need in stem cell transplantation
Currently, only 60% of transplant recipients receive the best possible match from an unrelated donor. This drops to 20.5% if the patient is from a black, Asian or ethnic minority (BAME) background.
It is therefore crucial to both grow and diversify the Anthony Nolan and NHS Stem Cell Registry , and the Anthony Nolan and NHS Cord Blood Bank, to ensure that every patient in need of a transplant has the best possible chance of finding a match.
Useful information sources:
Anthony Nolan
NHS Blood and Transplant
British Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation
World Marrow Donor Association (WMDA)
Human Tissue Authority
Delete Blood Cancer
Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research
African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust (ACLT)
