Stem Cell Transplant Therapy

Stem cell transplant may be a treatment option for patients with hematologic (blood) cancers or for patients with other disorders of the immune or blood system. The goal of a stem cell transplant is to prolong (lengthen) disease remission or, in some cases, to cure the disease.

There are two types of stem cell transplant:

1. Autologous – the patient's own stem cells are collected, frozen and then returned to the patient after high dose chemotherapy is completed.

2.  Allogeneic – stem cells are collected from a donor and infused into the patient once high dose chemotherapy, and sometimes radiation, is completed. The donor could be related or unrelated to the patient.

The high doses of chemotherapy damage the patient’s bone marrow and blood cells. The stem cells’ purpose is to rescue the patient from these effects, allowing for recovery, or, in the case of allogeneic stem cell transplant, to replace the patient’s immune system completely.

The type of transplant the patient undergoes is largely dependent upon the type of disease they have.

CAR T-cell Therapy

Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell Therapy is a therapy in which immune cells called T cells are modified to be able to find and destroy cancer cells. T cells are collected from the patient and then sent to a manufacturing laboratory where they are modified and multiplied, giving them special receptors to detect disease. Once production of the cells is completed, they are returned to Saskatoon and the patient is admitted to hospital for chemotherapy treatment, followed by infusion of their new cells.

Eligibility 

Currently, CAR T therapy is ONLY available to patients with specific blood cancers or lymphomas. It is also only available for Saskatchewan residents at this time. 

Questions?

For Saskatchewan Cancer Agency patients, we encourage you to speak to your health-care team at your next scheduled visit at one of our cancer centres.

For individuals who are not patients of the Cancer Agency (living in Saskatchewan or elsewhere), please call our Quality of Care Coordinator at (639) 625-2061, or toll-free at 1 (866) 577-6489.

Resources for New or Current Patients and their Families 

Each type of stem cell transplant require a lot of time, support and commitment. Transplants are intensive and lengthy treatments with many important steps and potential side effects. Review our detailed handbooks and video presentations below for more information on the different types of stem cell transplants.