Cell therapy and bone marrow transplant(BMT) a procedures for treating diseased cells by replacing them with healthy cells. Both of them use different types of cells. In cell therapy, doctors use blood cells, whereas in bone marrow transplant treatment, damaged cells are replaced with stem cells. So in this blog, we will cover all the important topics that will help you understand cell therapy vs bone marrow transplant, including their types, advantages, disadvantages, procedure, and cost in India.
What is Cell Therapy?
Cell therapy is a medical procedure used to treat the damaged or diseased cells of the body. This procedure focused on changing diseased cells into blood cells. Cell therapy is performed to boost the immune system and then fight against the cancerous disease or cells. This therapy can save the lives of cancer patients.
What is a Bone Marrow Transplant?
This transplant is a procedure of replacing diseased cells with healthier cells. These healthy cells can be collected from a donor or the subject’s body. This transplant is mainly used for blood cancer patients and plays an important role in curing the disease.
What is the Difference Between Cell Therapy vs Bone Marrow Transplant?
| Cell Therapy | Bone Marrow Transplant |
| Stem cells can be collected from various sources, such as tissue and bone marrow. | Stem cells can be primarily generated from bone marrow. |
| Cell therapy has a wider scope in cell treatment and also includes transplants. | A bone marrow transplant has a shorter scope because it is limited to the bone marrow. |
| Cell therapy is not a complex process. | A bone marrow transplant is a complex process. |
| It includes three types of transplant. | It includes only two types of transplant. |
| The procedure of cell therapy is easy and short. | The procedure is complex and long. |
Types of Cell Therapy and Bone Marrow Transplant
Here are some types of cell therapy and bone marrow therapy:
Types of Cell Therapy
Here are some types of cell therapy:
- Blood Transfusions: A blood transfusion is a common type of cell therapy, transfers red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets from a donor’s body to a patient’s body.
- Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation is used to regenerate the immune cells or blood cells in the patient’s body so that they can be used to fight against cancerous cells. This therapy is mainly used in blood cancer treatment.
- CAR T-cell Therapy: CAR T-cell therapy treatment is used to kill the diseased cells. These T-cells are prepared in labs using normal cells of patients or donors so that they can fight against cancerous cells and kill them.
Types of Bone Marrow Transplant
Here we have types of bone marrow therapy:
- Autograft: In this type, doctors collect and freeze a patient’s cells so that they can use them after chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
- Allograft: In this process, the donor’s stem cells fight against the patient’s cancerous cells. This is the most effective way of destroying cancerous cells.
- Syngeneic Transplant: In this type of transplant, doctors take stem cells from identical twins to cure the disease.
Advantages of Cell Therapy and Bone Marrow Treatment
Here we have the advantages of cell therapy and bone marrow treatment:
Advantages of Cell Therapy
Here are some advantages of cell therapy:
- Cell formation: Cell therapy is best for improving the blood production of healthy new cells in the body.
- Blood Cancer Treatment: This therapy plays a key role in blood cancer treatment because it helps in the treatment of blood cancer and kills the cancerous cells.
- Wound Healing: Cell therapy can heal wounds and regrow damaged tissue in the body.
- Choose Treatment: The patient can choose a treatment option according to their body’s needs.
Advantages of Bone Marrow Transplant
Here are some advantages of bone marrow transplant:
- Improves Survival Rate: This transplant increases the rate of survival for cancer patients when compared with other treatments.
- Reduced Recurrence: Bone marrow transplant reduces the risk of recurrence of the cancerous cells in certain cancers by killing the last cancerous cells in the body.
- Tissue Regeneration: Tissue regeneration is possible in bone marrow transplant, which helps in blood cell formation.
- Reduced Medicine Use: This transplant helps patients reduce the use of medicine, because it can negatively affect their health.
- Boost Immune Function: Bone marrow transplant helps in boosting the immune system by producing new cells.
Disadvantages of Cell Therapy and Bone Marrow Transplant
Here we have the disadvantages of cell therapy and bone marrow transplant:
Disadvantages of Cell Therapy
Here are some disadvantages of cell therapy:
- Carcinogenesis: Cell therapy, if not performed accurately, has a chance of tumour regeneration in the therapy area.
- Immune Rejection: So many times, there is a high chance that patients’ immune systems will reject the donor’s cells.
- Expensive: The high cost of Cell therapy makes it unaffordable for everyone.
- Lack of Institutes: There are fewer numbers of institutes and experts available for cell therapy.
- Long-run side effects: Cell therapy has some long-term side effects that can impact the health of patients in the long run.
Disadvantages of Bone Marrow Transplant
Here are some disadvantages of bone marrow transplant:
- Infection: Bone marrow transplant makes the body’s immune system weak for some time, which can result in infection in the transplant area.
- Organ Damage: The use of powerful chemotherapy and radiation during transplant can damage the liver, heart, lungs, and kidneys.
- Allograft Rejection: During the transplant process, there is a high chance of graft rejection by the patient’s immune system.
- Bleeding: In the recovery phase of bone marrow transplant, there is a chance of slow bleeding & anemia.
- Secondary Cancer: The high use of chemotherapy treatment and radiation therapy can lead to a secondary cancer in the long run.
Procedure of Cell Therapy vs Bone Marrow Transplant?
Here we have the procedure of cell therapy & bone marrow transplant:
Procedure of Cell Therapy
Here is the procedure for cell therapy:
- Cell Extraction: The primary work of this therapy is to extract or collect stem cells from a donor. It can be in the form of blood, bone marrow, and tissue.
- Cell Processing & Modification: Then the lab processes and modifies these collected cells according to the receiver’s immune system.
- Cell Expansion: Then the researcher cultures and multiplies the modified cells in a favourable environment. In this step, doctors ensure that there are enough cells for the therapy dose.
- Cell formulation & Frozen: Then, in this step, the cells are formulated in a therapy dose, and the dose is frozen for later use.
- Cell Infusion: Then, in the last step, the dose is infused into the patient’s bloodstream. Then these cells hit the diseased cells present in the patient’s body.
Procedure of Bone Marrow Transplant
Here is the procedure for a bone marrow transplant:
- Evaluation: First of all, the patient is going through an assessment where doctors check whether the patient is suitable for this transplant or not.
- Stem Cell Collection: Then, stem cells are collected from the patient’s body or from a donor’s body and stored before conditioning.
- Preparation: It involves the use of therapies for the removal of diseased bone marrow and makes space for new stem cells.
- Infusion Process: The modified cells are infused into the patient’s bloodstream, which travels to the bone marrow cavity and starts growing new blood cells.
- Recovery: In the recovery phase, doctors closely monitor the production of healthy blood cells in the bone marrow and provide supportive care if needed.
Recovery for Cell Therapy & Bone Marrow Transplant
Here are some recoveries for cell therapy and bone marrow transplant:
Recovery for Cell Therapy
After the surgery, the main thing is how to recover and curiosity about life after surgery. Here are some recoveries for cell therapy:
- Primary phase: In the primary phase, after coming from treatment, patients may experience some pain, fatigue, and swelling in the treatment area.
- Post-Primary Phase: The pain starts reducing, and the wounds start recovering properly. The patients start moving and performing some lighter activities.
- Continued Healing: As time increases, the process of healing increases, and patients feel much better than before. Patients can now perform moderate activities in their day-to-day life.
- Long-term Recovery: In the long run, patients start doing great in body functionalities, mobility, and pain relief. Patients regain their lost strength and energy, which helps them perform tasks.
Recovery for Bone Marrow Transplant
The recovery process and the curiosity about life after surgery are the major things to focus on. Here are some recoveries for bone marrow transplants:
- Engraftment: It is a primary recovery phase and most important because in that the blood cells are produced from stem cells. It takes 4 or more weeks for a successful engraftment.
- Immune Regeneration: In the recovery phase, the immune system starts to regain lost energy, which is lost due to the transplant. Immune regeneration is important because it helps in preventing infections.
- Physiotherapy: It is very important during the time of the recovery phase because of weak muscles and reduced strength. Physical exercises help the patients in regaining their lost strength.
- Side Effects Management: Side effects are common during transplant because the donor’s immune cells attack the patient’s body. It can cause skin problems and fatigue in the body.
- Long-term Follow-up: Regular check-ups from the doctor are important for a healthy recovery and higher blood counts in the body.
Cost & Rate of Success of Cell Therapy and BMT in India
Here are the costs and factors affecting the cost of cell therapy and bone marrow transplant:
Cell Therapy in India
Here we show the estimated cost and factors affecting the cost of cell therapy:
- Cost: The cost of cell therapy mainly depends on the type of therapy. Stem cell therapy costs 5,01,000 INR to 21,69,999 INR, and T-cell therapy costs 31,34,999 INR to 76,01,999 INR.
- Factors Affecting Cost: Factors that can make the cost of therapy higher are the type of hospital, doctors’ fees, hospital location, and the type of therapy.
- Rate of Success: In India, the success rate of stem cell therapies(cell therapy) ranges from 65% to 90%. It depends on the donor of bone marrow.
Bone Marrow Transplant in India
Here we show the estimated cost and factors affecting the cost of bone marrow transplants:
- Cost: A bone marrow transplant cost in India ranges from 16,99,999 INR to 42,00,999 INR.
- Factors affecting Cost: Factors that can make the cost of a bone marrow transplant higher include the hospital/clinic location, the patient’s condition, the type of transplant, and the expert fees.
- Rate of Success: In India, the success rate of bone marrow transplant surgery ranges from 80% to 90%.
Conclusion
Cell therapy and bone marrow transplant are both best for curing health problems related to cell disease. One is best in treating cells, and the other is best in replacing diseased cells. So in this blog, we include the type, advantages, disadvantages, procedure, and cost of these therapies.