Deceased Donor Stem Cell Transplants

About This Treatment

Bone marrow transplant has been an effective treatment option for a variety of hematologic (blood or bone marrow) diseases by replacing unhealthy blood-forming cells with healthy ones. Doctors can harvest or retrieve new blood-forming cells (stem cells) from your own body or from a donor. A donor may be a relative or an unrelated person who’s a genetic match, but not everyone has access to a living donor. When a living match is not available a deceased donor stem cell transplant may be an option. 

What is a deceased donor stem cell transplant?

In a deceased donor transplant, a patient may receive stem cells from a matched donor who has given the gift of donation after passing. The cells are carefully recovered from the vertebral columns of the deceased donor, preserved and pre-banked, making them readily available to the patient in need when a match is found.

This new option has helped expand access to transplant, especially for patients who may not have had a matched living donor. This innovative approach allows for faster transplants, sometimes within 72 hours, overcoming the time-consuming search for a living donor and providing another way to find a match.

70% of patients who need a match don’t have a donor match in their family. With deceased donor transplants, hope lives on.

Who may be eligible for a deceased donor bone marrow transplant?

You may be considered if for a deceased donor transplant if:

• A physician recommends an allogeneic (donor) bone marrow transplant
• A suitable living donor is not available
• The potential benefits outweigh the risks

What conditions are deceased donor transplants used for?

This treatment approach may be used for conditions such as:

• Leukemia
• Lymphoma
• Other blood or bone marrow disorders

How to get connected to care

If you believe you may be a candidate for a deceased donor transplant, speak with your provider who can help determine the best care options for you. 

If you are a provider looking to make a blood and bone marrow transplantation referral, visit our Physician Referral page for more information.