Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh found that infusing donor bone marrow into the thymus significantly reduces rejection rates, especially with multiple doses. The study also showed promise in pediatric heart transplantation, where the procedure is both safe and feasible.
Doctors at Duke University Medical Center have developed a treatment that can save most babies born with severe combined immune deficiency (SCID) by giving them a family member's bone marrow within the first 3.5 months of life. This approach has eradicated the need for toxic chemotherapy, sterile environments, and lengthy hospital stays.
Researchers link transplant tolerance to immune system's response to noncytopathic micro-organisms, which can coexist with transplanted organs. The process involves a delicate balancing act between donor and recipient immune cells.
A USC-led study shows that photopheresis reduces the number of serious organ rejections in heart transplant patients, potentially allowing for a more targeted therapy. The treatment also appears to have an anti-viral effect, reducing levels of cytomegalovirus (CMV) in the bloodstream.
Researchers found that stray maternal cells in umbilical cord blood transplants can engraft and cause graft-versus-host disease symptoms. Treatment involves withdrawing anti-GVH medications, allowing the immune system to reject transient maternal cells.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center found that umbilical cord blood transplants can cure genetic diseases in children, with an overall survival rate of 68% and 80% success rate in patients under 2 years old. Early diagnosis and treatment are key to the successful outcomes.
A phase I trial has shown that adding mature stem cells to an umbilical cord blood transplant increases the success rate of transplants in children. The 'booster' cells were given to patients after growing in a laboratory setting for 12 days, and 19 out of 28 patients had successful transplants.
Researchers found that cord blood can restore bone marrow even with partial matches, offering hope to patients who need transplants. Four children received 'haplo-identical' sibling umbilical cord blood transplants and showed promising results.
The largest series of unrelated cord blood transplants confirms the feasibility of transplantation for patients without a matching donor. The study demonstrates success in children and mismatched transplants with reduced acute graft versus host disease incidence.
A five-year study aims to define long-term issues and positive growth in bone marrow transplant survivors, while evaluating factors that impact their survival and quality of life. Researchers will assess physical and psychological health, neuropsychological changes, and menopausal symptoms in over 200 participants.
Researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center found that genetic techniques for matching patients with marrow donors can eliminate guesswork and improve survival rates. The study of 300 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia showed that even single mismatches in key genes don't affect long-term survival.
A study by Weizmann Institute of Science and Perugia University in Italy has found that mismatched bone marrow transplants can be as effective as fully matched transplants, overcoming key obstacles such as graft failure and immunological reaction. The method, which uses extremely large doses of donor marrow, has raised hopes for increa...
Researchers found that bone marrow transplant significantly improves disease-free survival for children with high-risk neuroblastoma. Additionally, follow-up therapy with high doses of retinoic acid shows promising results, with a three-year event-free survival rate of 55% compared to 16% for those treated with consolidation chemothera...
A study at Temple University Health System investigates whether donor bone marrow can coax recipients' immune systems to coexist without rejection of the transplanted hearts. If successful, it could lead to longer survival and reduced need for re-transplantations.
Researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center found that HLA-matched unrelated marrow transplants can be safe and effective for CML patients in chronic phase. The study showed a 57% overall survival rate, with younger patients having a higher rate of 74%, comparable to those with matched sibling donors.
Duke researchers have identified a lung condition in breast cancer patients that can limit therapy choices if not treated promptly. The disorder, DPTS, is successfully treated with inexpensive corticosteroids, improving pulmonary function by 17%.
A study by Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center found that 77% of adult AML patients who received a T-cell depleted bone marrow transplant were cancer-free after 6 years. The treatment limits graft-versus-host disease risk and leukemic recurrence.
A new procedure called in utero stem cell transplantation has shown promise in treating genetic disorders such as sickle cell anaemia and thalassaemia. The technique involves transplanting primitive blood forming cells into an affected fetus, which can cure the disease before damage occurs.
Researchers Cecilia Soderberg-Naucler and Jay Nelson identified the host site where human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) resides and developed an activation mechanism in specific white blood cells. This breakthrough could lead to more effective treatments for HCMV-related complications, including birth defects and transplant deaths.
A study of 44 siblings of children who survived bone marrow transplantation found that sibling bone marrow donors showed more adaptive skills in school, while those who were not donors had more school problems. Both groups experienced post-traumatic stress after the transplant.
A Duke University Medical Center study reveals that early marrow transplants can cure nearly all cases of severe combined immune deficiency (SCID), a previously fatal disorder. The research found that treating the disease within three months of birth and using 'half-matched' parental marrow can significantly improve survival rates.
The NHLBI is launching a 5-year, $30 million study to investigate the safety and effectiveness of cord blood transplantation as an alternative to bone marrow transplantation for various cancers, blood diseases, and genetic disorders. The study aims to provide answers to scientific and ethical questions surrounding this procedure.
A new study by the NHLBI shows that bone marrow transplantation can provide a cure for young patients with sickle cell disease who have a matched sibling. The procedure has an overall survival rate of 90% and successfully transplanted 73% of participants, free from sickle cell disease.
Researchers at Duke University successfully demonstrate that placental blood can be used as a reliable alternative to traditional bone marrow donors for transplantation. The study's findings pave the way for innovative treatments in hematology and immunology.