Introduction
Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) uses very high doses of chemotherapy alone or with radiation therapy to kill tumor cells.
This technique is also used to treat genetic diseases.
Bone marrow transplant also "wipes out" normal bone marrow.
New stem cells are then used to repopulate the bone marrow. This engraftment by new stem cells is called "rescue."
Stem cells are pluripotent cells capable of
- Self-renewal (unlimited ability to replicate and divide themselves)
- Differentiation (can become a number of tissues).
Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs) specifically have the ability to differentiate into the variety of different blood cell types such as :-
- White cells including granulocytes and their precursors
- Megakaryocytes which become platelets
- Red cell precursors which become mature red cells
- Immune cells (such as B- and T-lymphocytes.
HSCs can be harvested from individuals and transplanted
