Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation

Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation designates a therapeutic procedure where a patient's own haematopoietic stem cells are collected before high-dose chemotherapy or radiation that ablates malignant cells along with normal marrow, then reinfused to rescue haematopoietic function and immune reconstitution after treatment. This approach avoids graft-versus-host disease while enabling dose-intensified therapy.

The biopharmaceutical industry supports autologous stem cell transplantation through development of mobilisation agents, supportive care medications, and post-transplant therapies. G-CSF and plerixafor mobilise haematopoietic stem cells from bone marrow into peripheral blood for collection by leukapheresis. Supportive care agents including growth factors, antimicrobials, and antiemetics manage transplant-related toxicity. Post-transplant maintenance therapies including lenalidomide reduce relapse rates in myeloma. Emerging approaches combine autologous transplantation with gene therapy correcting haematopoietic stem cell genetic defects before reinfusion. As consolidation strategies evolve and new induction regimens improve pre-transplant tumour control, autologous stem cell transplantation continues as an important treatment modality for eligible haematological malignancy patients.