There are three main types of blood and marrow transplant.

• Autologous transplant
• Allogeneic related donor transplant
• Allogeneic unrelated donor transplant

Autologous stem cell transplant
When we use your own blood-forming stem cells for the transplant, it is called an autologous stem cell transplant. We collect your stem cells from your bone marrow or blood, then freeze and store them until it's time for your transplant. Next, you have a preparative regimen of chemotherapy (with or without radiation). Once that is complete, we reinfuse (transplant) your stem cells back into your body.

For some adult patients, we may do much of the autologous stem cell transplant in the outpatient clinic. 

Allogeneic stem cell transplant
When you receive blood forming stem cells from a donor, it is called an allogeneic transplant. The donor needs to be genetically similar to you. Often the donor is a brother or sister. But stem cells can also come from someone who is not related to you, or from a unit of stored umibilcal cord blood.

Allogeneic related-donor transplant
A related donor transplant can be done if you have a blood relative, usually a brother or sister, whose "tissue type" matches or nearly matches yours. Tissue typing is done through a blood test called the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) test. It examines proteins called antigens on the surface of white blood cells. Everyone inherits a unique set of these antigens from each parent, sort of like a cellular fingerprint. HLA proteins are markers that help your immune system distinguish "self" (your cells and tissues) from "nonself " (someone else’s cells and tissues). Your body can reject cells with different HLA types.

The closer the match between your HLA type and that of the donor, the lower the risk of complications. Complications include rejection and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Identical twins have identical HLA proteins. Siblings have a one-in-four chance of being the same HLA type (matched donor).

Unrelated-donor transplant
If no HLA-matched relative is available, a transplant using stem cells from an unrelated donor may be an option. The donor is a volunteer who has joined a blood and marrow donor registry. In the United States, the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) has a registry of millions of potential volunteer donors, with millions of others available through international registries. The donor’s stem cells are removed (harvested) on the day of your transplant and then carefully packaged and transported to the transplant facility.