Table 1 Procedure of allogeneic stem cell transplantation: main phases and principles
Procedure/phase | Principle |
|---|---|
1 Conditioning regimen | |
a) Cytoreductive chemotherapy | Disease control |
Reduction of tumour burden | |
Induction of remission | |
b) Myeloablation/immunoablation | Elimination of the immune system of the recipient by (high-dose) chemotherapy or irradiation |
2 Stem cell transfusion | Donation of “the new” immunosystem |
3 Immunosuppression | Prevention and treatment of graft rejection and graft-versus-host disease |
4 Alloreactivity as further medicinal intervention: maintenance and relapse therapy | Elimination of residual malignant cells by the graft-versus-leukaemia reaction, enhancement of the immunotherapeutic effect by donor lymphocyte infusions |