Historically, oncology pioneered the successful application of stem cells (SCs). Initially, treatment carried substantial risks and inconsistent outcomes, but medicine continues advancing. Today, in developed countries, cancer therapy with stem cells has become more effective and relatively safe. Stem cell therapy in Germany has a low mortality rate and can cure even aggressive end-stage cancers.
Principles of using stem cells in cancer treatment
Stem cells do not directly eradicate tumors. However, transplantation can provide long-term remission or even cure cancer. How does it work?
There are two types of transplantation: autologous and allogeneic. In the first case, the patient’s own stem cells are used, and in the second case, stem cells from a healthy donor are used.
The patient’s own stem cells are used if the disease has not affected the bone marrow. If the patient’s bone marrow also has tumors or metastases, it is unlikely that cancer can be cured with the help of the patient’s own stem cells. This is due to the fact that the material obtained for transplantation will contain cancer cells, which, after being injected back into the patient’s body, will begin to divide again and may ultimately cause a disease recurrence.
Autologous transplantation entails:
- Harvesting blood or bone marrow stem cells, cryopreserving them
- Administering high-dose chemotherapy, sometimes with radiation
- High-dosage chemotherapy eradicates all malignant cells but permanently damages the bone marrow, so no more blood cells are produced
- Returning the patient’s stem cells intravenously
- Stem cells migrate to the bone marrow, which restores the hematopoietic system, and there is no more cancer in the body
Allogeneic transplants work analogously but more efficiently by enlisting immune anti-cancer mechanisms. Post-transplantation, immunity becomes less tolerant of malignant cells. Graft-versus-tumor effects enable immune cells to eradicate residual cancerous cells.
Who may be a candidate for a stem cell transplant?
Stem cell transplants primarily treat leukemias, lymphomas, and myelomas. More rarely, they address solid organ tumors like testicular cancer, Ewing’s sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, or neuroblastoma.
Cancer treatment with stem cell transplants is quite aggressive. Furthermore, within a few weeks, a person’s immune system is severely compromised. Therefore, the transplant is usually not performed for older people. The treatment method is used mainly in children and young patients. The younger the patient is, the greater the chance that the procedure will be completed successfully, that is, without any complications and with a cure for cancer.
Stem cell transplants are not considered a first-line treatment option for any cancer. This procedure can be used in the following severe cases:
- Particularly aggressive forms of cancer are diagnosed
- No response to standard treatment
- Tumor recurrence after chemotherapy
- Cancer has spread in the body
Where to have your stem cell therapy?
If the treatment is not available or dangerous in your home country, medical travel is an option. Stem cell transplants are successful in developed countries.
The Booking Health website presents the best hospitals specializing in cancer treatment. The website also specifies the cost of stem cell therapy at each medical center. You can compare prices and choose the one that suits you best.You are welcome to leave your request on https://bookinghealth.com to get our help. You will be advised by our medical tourism specialist. We will help you select a stem cell clinic in Germany that demonstrates the best success rate for the procedure. The specialists from the Booking Health company will take care of all the arrangements for your trip abroad. Treatment through our service will cost you less due to the absence of high taxes for foreign patients.
