How Is a Bone Marrow Transplant Performed?

The process of a bone marrow transplant typically involves several steps:

  • Harvesting of stem cells from the donor (for allogeneic transplants) or the patient (for autologous transplants).

  • Pre-transplant conditioning may include chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy to destroy diseased cells and suppress the immune system.

  • Infusion of the stem cells into the patient’s bloodstream, where they travel to the bone marrow and begin to produce new blood cells.