Revolutionary Stem Cell Therapy in Cancer Treatment

If any treatment method can revolutionize medicine, it is undoubtedly stem cells (SCs). Body rejuvenation, complete restoration of organs and tissues, and even growing new organs are issues of the near future. And what about the present? Stem cells are already used in all fields of medicine, and the greatest experience of their use doctors have in oncology. Stem cells have been used to treat cancer for half a century, and the effectiveness of cell therapy continues to increase. Today, cancer stem cell therapy in Germany makes it possible to cope even with severe advanced diseases.

The principle of stem cell therapy for cancer

In cancer treatment, a SC transplant procedure is used to restore bone marrow and the hematopoietic system. Bone marrow is located inside the bones. This does not mean that the SCs have to be injected into the bones for the transplant procedure: the SCs find their own place when injected intravenously.

There are two approaches to stem cell therapy: doctors can use a patient's own (autologous) or donor (allogeneic) SCs. The first method is safer, but it cannot cure cancer if the tumor has spread to the bone marrow, because in this case, the patient's own SCs contain cancer cells. By transplanting them, doctors thereby return the tumor to the body, which may cause a recurrence. The second method (donor transplantation) is more effective, but there are certain difficulties in finding a donor and there is a risk of rejection. With the right donor with good compatibility, the risk of immunologic complications is very low.

Autologous SC transplantation alone does not cure cancer. Other methods are used to suppress cancer cells: high-dose chemotherapy, sometimes combined with radiation therapy. High-dose chemotherapy can destroy all tumors in the body, but it also destroys bone marrow because it affects all the rapidly dividing cells. Therefore, after completing a course of high-dose chemotherapy, patients need a SC transplant to restore hematopoiesis. These are obtained before the start of chemotherapy.

Allogeneic SC transplantation works according to the same principle but provides an additional therapeutic effect by activating the immune system. By receiving allogeneic SCs, the patient also receives "foreign" immune cells produced by the bone marrow. These cells are significantly less tolerant to the tumor compared to the patient's own cells, resulting in a "graft vs. tumor" immune reaction.

How the treatment is carried out

SCs are obtained from the patient's own body or from a donor. In the past, bone marrow was the main source of SCs, which gave the procedure its name: bone marrow transplantation. Today, peripheral blood is more often used as a source of SCs in the top cancer clinics in Germany. Peripheral blood is passed through a machine to obtain the desired cells and return the rest into the bloodstream.

The obtained SCs are filtered and frozen. They are stored while the person receives chemotherapy and then injected intravenously. After about 4 weeks, the hematopoietic function of the bone marrow is restored. During this time, patients stay in special rooms separated from the rest of the hospital, with air filters installed to keep germs out, since a person's immune system is almost dormant during the initial period after conditioning (bone marrow destruction). For the same reason, the person will receive antibiotics, antifungal and antiviral medications. Patients will also need transfusions of red blood cells and platelets. Full recovery of the immune system and well-being after cancer treatment will take 6 to 12 months.

In Germany, cancer care is effective and safe, using advanced stem cell treatments. You can choose German medical centers to have a good chance of successful therapy even for advanced stages of cancer. The latest cancer treatments are available abroad, and patients receive quality care and accompanying therapy.

Use Booking Health service to undergo personalized cancer treatment in Germany. The site presents the best clinics in the world, and lists prices for medical programs. Booking Health employees will help you to choose a hospital that uses innovative cancer treatments with good results and organize your trip. The cost of medical services when making an appointment through our service will be lower due to the absence of additional charges for foreign patients.