Each stem cell transplant is a personalized journey. No paths are exactly alike, but the outlook is the same: hope on the horizon.
Advances in cell therapy will redefine expectations of who can make the journey, and what the path forward will reveal.
What advances could extend the promise of transplant to more patients in need?
with more transplants for more waiting patients.
with optimized solutions and better outcomes.
with a straightforward experience for patients.
Cell therapy has always been a forward-looking field for those who seek paths for their patients beyond conventional options.1
Over 18,000 new patients with hematologic malignancies are considered for transplant each year, initiating a journey of hope for a personal cure.2
The innovations that make this possible are scientific, organizational, and social; new medicines, evidence-driven practices, and the essential work of organizations such as the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) and the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT) all help illuminate a brighter path for patients.
Every year, more than 5000 eligible patients do not receive transplant.9
Graft sources vary widely, with complex dimensions that require calculated decisions.
Patients may experience ANXIETY throughout the process.10
The essential foundation for every transplant is the donor source – and its quality and cellular composition may determine the short- and long-term effects.17
So much depends on these selected cells: to restore and renew.
For decades, transplant has relied mainly on adult donors, related or unrelated. But today, as new vistas in cell engineering emerge, innovations will lead us to the next step in expectations for donor sources and engraftment.
Cellular engineering, principally the control and regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, and function, is vital to the success of cell‐based therapeutic applications and technologies.
Preference for graft source varies across institutions with Matched Related Donors being the gold standard and transplanters weighing advantages and compromises of other available sources.16
When multiple graft sources are available, transplanters select for optimized cellularity and cellular compositions, particularly with regard to CD34+ cell counts and T cells, as they may play a major role in transplant outcomes.17
Strategies, such as the use of cytokines and the selective depletion of certain cellular types, may present a promising approach to preserving GvL effects while reducing GvHD.18
Ex vivo expansion of stem cells may help to alleviate the issue of material shortage for transplantation purposes. Refinement of current protocols, development of optimal conditions for expansion, and preservation of cellular functionality and phenotype during expansion may lead to critical advancements in cellular therapy.19
Optimization of procedures to mitigate the risk of GvHD, such as the enrichment or immunomodulation of certain immune cells, is vital to obtain better outcomes.20
In order to lower the risk of severe GvHD, in vitro cell engineering methods to enhance safety, decrease alloreactivity, and strengthen protective anti-pathogen and anti-leukemic responses following allogeneic HSCT are pertinent to consider.20
Standardized processes to maximize cell product preservation and ensure timely and reliable delivery before infusion are essential to optimize day of transplant.