Study Summaries

Main Content

CIBMTR performs ground-breaking research into blood and marrow transplant. This research has a significant impact on the survival and quality of life of thousands of transplant and cellular therapy patients. Here we provide summaries of CIBMTR research in an easy-to-read way. Now you and your family have access to useful information that can help you talk with your doctor about treatment options.

Study summaries are organized by disease / condition and other transplant characteristics. More easy-to-read information about transplant, including diseases treatable by transplant, is available on the NMDP website. You may also visit the NMDP Jason Carter Clinical Trials Search & Support webpage to view additional summaries of completed clinical trials, also called research studies. For help understanding this information, contact the NMDP Patient Support Center at 1 (888) 999-6743 or patientinfo@nmdp.org.

CIBMTR shares data sets from scientific papers with the public, free of charge. CIBMTR removes personal data to protect the privacy of study participants. For more information, visit the Publicly Available Datasets webpage.

Diseases and Conditions

Acute Leukemia
Cancer in Children and Teens
Chronic Leukemia and Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Graft-versus-Host Disease
Lymphoma
Multiple Myeloma
Other Diseases

Diseases and Conditions

Acute Leukemia

Acute leukemia includes acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). AML is the most common type of acute leukemia. Nearly 15,000 new cases are found in the United States each year. AML can affect people of any age, but is most common in adults. There are about 6,000 new cases of ALL in the United States each year. It can affect people of any age, but is the most common type of leukemia in children under 15.

Summary (PDF)	Important Points	Full Article
Gilteritinib helps some people with leukemia Accessible version	Given after transplant, medicine helps patients with traces of cancer	Gilteritinib as Post-Transplant Maintenance for Acute Myeloid Leukemia With Internal Tandem Duplication Mutation of FLT3
A medicine for transplant can raise the chance of infections Accessible version	Cyclophosphamide is still helpful; patients should be watched for infections	Post-transplantation cyclophosphamide is associated with increased bacterial infections
For blood or marrow transplant, younger donors more helpful Accessible version	Older adults with leukemia should get younger, matched donors, if possible	Impact of Donor Age on Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Outcomes in Older Adults with Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Most older people who have AML benefit from transplant Accessible version	Of adults older than 60 who needed BMT, fewer than 5% got BMT	Age is no barrier for adults undergoing HCT for AML in CR1: contemporary CIBMTR analysis.
Transplant can cure T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia Accessible version	Blood and marrow transplant is an option for some people with rare leukemia	Outcomes of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in T cell prolymphocytic leukemia: A contemporary analysis from the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research.
Half-matched and cord blood transplants fight leukemia Accessible version	Both help people who have acute leukemia but no matched donor	Comparison of haploidentical and umbilical cord blood transplantation after myeloablative conditioning.
For some people older than 50, transplant from young, matched donors is better than half-matched donors	Study looked at ages and types of donors to treat people with acute leukemia	Alternative donor transplantation for acute myeloid leukemia in patients aged ≥50 years: Young HLA-matched unrelated or haploidentical donor?
Haplo transplant helps people with leukemia	News may help people of all ethnicities get BMT sooner	Outcomes of haploidentical vs matched sibling transplantation for acute myeloid leukemia in first complete remission.
Blood or marrow transplant helps treat leukemia after age 60	People older than 60 lived longer after getting BMT than chemo alone.	Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation compared to chemotherapy consolidation in older acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients 60-75 years in first complete remission (CR1): An alliance (A151509), SWOG, ECOG-ACRIN, and CIBMTR study.
Experimental medicine treats children with leukemia and MDS	Treosulfan may be safer than a similar medicine before transplant.	Treosulfan, fludarabine and low-dose total body irradiation for children and young adults with acute myeloid leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation: A prospective phase II trial of the Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Consortium.
Chemotherapy prep for transplant works for acute leukemia, but risks of relapse are higher	People with acute leukemia who got only chemotherapy (chemo) to prepare them for transplant lived almost as long as people who got chemo plus radiation, but their risks for leukemia recurrence were higher. People had fewer side effects with chemo-only prep.	Intravenous busulfan compared with total body irradiation pretransplant conditioning for adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemiaIntravenous busulfan compared with total body irradiation pretransplant conditioning for adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Patients with myelodysplastic syndromes or acute myeloid leukemia may benefit from a standard preparative regimen	Patients who got a standard preparative regimen were more likely to be cancer-free a year and a half after transplant than patients who got a reduced-intensity regimen.	Myeloablative versus reduced-intensity hematopoietic cell transplantation for acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes
Treatment helps children and teens with acute leukemia thrive after cord blood transplants	The TCF treatment regimen before cord blood transplant helped young people with acute leukemia live longer.	Umbilical cord blood transplantation in children with acute leukemia: Impact of conditioning on transplantation outcomes
Early results suggest people live equally long after half-matched transplants using either peripheral blood or bone marrow	Scientists followed people for two years after transplants for: Acute leukemias, myelodysplastic syndrome, and lymphomas.	Mobilized peripheral blood stem cells versus unstimulated bone marrow as a graft source for T-cell—replete haploidentical donor transplantation using post-transplant cyclophosphamide
A transplant from an unrelated donor can treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia	New research may make it possible for more people with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) to get life-saving transplants. In the past, a transplant using blood-forming cells from a sibling was the only well-tested transplant option. New research shows that a transplant from an unrelated donor can help people with ALL live equally long as a transplant from a sibling.	Comparing outcomes of matched related donor and matched unrelated donor hematopoietic cell transplants in adults with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Cytogenetics predict transplant results in older patients with acute myeloid leukemia	Cytogenetic testing can predict BMT outcomes in older patients with AML. Transplant works for about 1 of every 3 older patients with AML.	Cytogenetic risk determines outcomes after allogeneic transplantation in older patients with acute myeloid leukemia in their second complete remission: A Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research cohort analysis
Less chronic GVHD after cord blood transplant for acute leukemia	Patients had less chronic GVHD after cord blood transplants. Patients who received ATG had less acute GVHD.	GVHD after umbilical cord transplantation for acute leukemia: An analysis of risk factors and effect on outcomes
Blood or marrow transplant can work well to treat B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia for older patients	Reduced-intensity BMT can work well for older patients with B-cell ALL. For patients who had BMT when the disease was in the 1st complete remission, almost half (45%) were alive 3 years later.	Reduced intensity conditioned allograft yields favorable survival for older adults with B-Cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A CIBMTR analysis
Transplant may help older patients with acute myeloid leukemia	Reduced-intensity transplant is a good treatment option for some older patients with AML.	Phase II study of allogeneic transplantation for older patients with acute myeloid leukemia in first complete remission using a reduced-intensity conditioning regimen: Results from Cancer and Leukemia Group B 100103 (Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology)/Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trial Network 0502
More teens and young adults with ALL survive after blood or marrow transplant than in the past	5-year survival increased over time in teens and young adults and in children.	Survival improvements in adolescents and young adults after myeloablative allogeneic transplantation for acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Allo transplant helps some older patients with AML	Older patients (aged 65 years and older) with AML can get high dose chemo if they are healthy enough. About half of the older patients who get high dose chemo go into remission. However, the disease usually comes back within a year. About 40% of older patients in remission who get an allo transplant live at least 2 years. It is important for patients to talk with their doctor about an allo transplant as soon as they find out they have AML.	To transplant or not: A dilemma for treatment of elderly AML patients in the twenty-first century
Similar survival for leukemia patients receiving transplants from related vs. unrelated donors	Patients with leukemia who get a transplant from a well matched unrelated donor or from an unrelated donor with a single mismatch should have similar survival to patients who have a related donor.	Outcomes after matched unrelated donor versus identical sibling hematopoietic cell transplantation in adults with acute myelogenous leukemia
Unrelated umbilical cord blood transplants equal to unrelated bone marrow in helping children with acute leukemia	Children with acute leukemia who receive unrelated umbilical-cord blood transplants have outcomes equal to - or in some cases, better than - those treated with bone marrow.	Outcomes of transplantation of unrelated donor umbilical cord blood and bone marrow in children with acute leukaemia: A comparison study

Cancer in Children and Teens

The types of cancers that affect children and teens are often different than the types that affect adults. Children and teens also respond to treatments differently than adults. Some cancers that affect children include leukemia, neuroblastoma, Wilms tumor, and lymphoma.

Summary (PDF)	Important Points	Full Article
Guidelines needed for returning to school after transplant Accessible version	Schoolchildren need more support	Return to school practices after hematopoietic cell transplantation: a survey of transplant centers in the United States
Some children need intensive care after transplant Accessible version	About 1 in 7 children end up in ICU within 1 year after transplant	Critical Illness Risk and Long-Term Outcomes Following Intensive Care in Pediatric Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients.
Most survivors of childhood AML have good health as adults, but history of BMT impacts long-term outcomes Accessible version	Largest study of children who had acute myeloid leukemia compares treatments	Chronic conditions, late mortality, and health status after childhood AML: a Childhood Cancer Survivor Study report
Long-term effects common after BMT in childhood Accessible version	40% of children have effects 10 years later; treatments available	Association of Chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease with Late Effects following Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Children with Hematologic Malignancy.
After BMT, children may delay returning to school Accessible version	Children can return to school after vaccinated for COVID-19	Return-to-School Practices for Pediatric Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Recipients during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Certain antibiotics linked with graft-versus-host disease Accessible version	Carbapenems may seriously affect young people who have leukemia	Broad-Spectrum Antibiotics and Risk of Graft-versus-Host Disease in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Transplantation for Acute Leukemia: Association of Carbapenem Use with the Risk of Acute Graft-versus-Host Disease.
Lower income children with blood cancers are less likely to survive after blood and marrow transplantation Accessible version	More support and resources are needed for children and families	Neighborhood-Poverty and Pediatric Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Outcomes: A CIBMTR Analysis.
New scoring tool helps children and teens with leukemia Accessible version	Tool forecasts how well blood and marrow transplant will work	A validated pediatric disease risk index for allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation
Teens and young adults need check-ups for side effects, even years after leukemia treatment	Blood or marrow transplant cures leukemia but may have late side effects	Late effects after ablative allogeneic stem cell transplantation for adolescent and young adult acute myeloid leukemia.
Second transplant helps some children with acute leukemia	Those whose leukemia was controlled (in remission) at the time of their second BMT lived longer than those whose leukemia failed to respond to chemo.	Outcomes after second hematopoietic cell transplant for children and young adults with relapsed acute leukemia.
What happens when blood cells are used instead of bone marrow in BMT for children and teens with leukemia?	For children and teens with acute leukemia, researchers recommend BMT with bone marrow cells.	Bone marrow versus peripheral blood from unrelated donors for children and adolescents with acute leukemia.
Experimental medicine treats children with leukemia and MDS	Treosulfan may be safer than a similar medicine before transplant	Treosulfan, fludarabine and low-dose total body irradiation for children and young adults with acute myeloid leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation: A prospective phase II trial of the Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Consortium.
Childhood transplants linked to slightly higher risk of heart problems and diabetes	Scientists urge checkups for cholesterol and blood pressure.	Late cardiovascular morbidity and mortality following pediatric allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation
Treatment helps children and teens with acute leukemia thrive after cord blood transplants	The TCF treatment regimen before cord blood transplant helped young people with acute leukemia live longer.	Umbilical cord blood transplantation in children with acute leukemia: Impact of conditioning on transplantation outcomes
Common late effects after transplant in very young children	30% of very young BMT recipients have organ damage or other late effects. Common late effects are delayed growth, cataracts, and hypothyroidism. Full-body radiation increases the chance of getting these late effects.	Survival and late effects after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for hematologic malignancy at less than three years of age
Some children who donate cells to a brother or a sister have a lower quality of life and need extra support	About 20% of donors (1 in 5) at each time point had very poor QOL. Parents tended to overestimate their child's QOL. Younger children were more likely to have a lower QOL.	Health-related quality of life among pediatric hematopoietic stem cell donors
Transplant outcomes for children and young adults with chronic myeloid leukemia	Transplant outcomes are similar in children and young adults with CML. Transplant works better with bone marrow from sibling donors. Taking TKIs before transplant doesn't affect how well transplant works.	Outcomes of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in children (<18y) and young adults (18-29y) with chronic myeloid leukemia: A CIBMTR cohort analysis
Transplant can help some children with hypodiploid acute lymphoblastic leukemia	Children with hypodiploid ALL did worse when they had a transplant later (in their 2nd complete remission). Children with 43 or fewer chromosomes in their diseased cells had a higher risk of the leukemia coming back and dying after transplant compared to children with 44 or 45 chromosomes. While more children may live longer because doctors can find better matched donors, disease factors still affect transplant outcomes.	Transplant outcomes for children with hypodiploid acute lymphoblastic leukemia
More teens and young adults with ALL survive after blood or marrow transplant than in the past	5-year survival increased over time in teens and young adults and in children.	Survival improvements in adolescents and young adults after myeloablative allogeneic transplantation for acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Allo transplant helps some children with neuroblastoma	Only 4% of patients with neuroblastoma (NBL) get an allo transplant. 20% of patients with NBL who get an allo transplant go into remission for at least 5 years. Patients with NBL who only get an allo transplant do better than patients who get an auto transplant first and then an allo transplant.	Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for neuroblastoma: The CIBMTR experience
Younger sibling donors better for children and teens needing transplants	Children and teen patients who get transplants from their younger siblings get less GVHD than patients who get transplants from their older siblings. For adult patients, it makes no difference if a sibling donor is younger or older.	Birth order and transplantation outcome in HLA-identical sibling stem cell transplantations: An analysis on behalf of the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplantation
Unrelated umbilical cord blood transplants equal to unrelated bone marrow in helping children with acute leukemia	Children with acute leukemia who receive unrelated umbilical-cord blood transplants have outcomes equal to - or in some cases, better than - those treated with bone marrow.	Outcomes of transplantation of unrelated donor umbilical cord blood and bone marrow in children with acute leukaemia: A comparison study

Chronic Leukemia and Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Chronic leukemia includes chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). CLL is primarily an adult disease. It is very rare in children and young adults. About 15,000 people are diagnosed each year in the United States. CML is a relatively common form of leukemia. It affects more than 20,000 people in the United States. There are 6,000 new cases each year. Most cases of CML appear in adults. MDS is uncommon before age 50, and the risk increases as a person gets older. It is most commonly diagnosed in people in their 70s. About 19,000 people are diagnosed with MDS in the United States each year.

Summary (PDF)	Important Points	Full Article
For older adults with MDS, transplant preserves quality of life Accessible version	Blood and marrow transplant improves survival	Health-related quality of life in reduced-intensity hematopoietic cell transplantation based on donor availability in patients aged 50-75 with advanced myelodysplastic syndrome: BMT CTN 1102
Younger BMT donors sometimes better than older donors Accessible version	Blood and marrow transplant helps people with myelodysplastic syndromes	Relapse and Disease-Free Survival in Patients With Myelodysplastic Syndrome Undergoing Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Using Older Matched Sibling Donors vs Younger Matched Unrelated Donors.
Blood and marrow transplants (BMT) help people with advanced myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) Accessible version	Not enough people have access to life-saving transplant	Biologic Assignment Trial of Reduced-Intensity Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Based on Donor Availability in Patients 50-75 Years of Age With Advanced Myelodysplastic Syndrome Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network Study 1102 heralds a new era in hematopoietic cell transplantation in high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes: Challenges and opportunities in implementation
Half-matched donors help more people with MDS get transplants Accessible version	Both matched, unrelated people and half-matched relatives can donate	Alternative donor transplantation for myelodysplastic syndromes: Haploidentical relative and matched unrelated donors
New tool shows which people with myelodysplastic syndromes will be most helped by transplant Accessible version	The tool calculates how likely it is for the person to be alive and cancer-free for up to 2 years after transplant	A Personalized Prediction Model for Outcomes after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplant in Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Blood and marrow transplant helps treat myelofibrosis Accessible version	BMT may help more people with myelofibrosis than previously known	Survival following allogeneic transplant in patients with myelofibrosis.
Transplant can help people aged 65 and older with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS)	Experts recommend that Medicare pay for transplant	Comparison of patient age groups in transplantation for myelodysplastic syndrome: The Medicare coverage with evidence development study.
Patients with myelodysplastic syndromes or acute myeloid leukemia may benefit from a standard preparative regimen	Patients who got a standard preparative regimen were more likely to be cancer-free a year and a half after transplant than patients who got a reduced-intensity regimen.	Myeloablative versus reduced-intensity hematopoietic cell transplantation for acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes
Cord blood transplant helps some people with myelodysplastic syndromes	If someone with MDS does not have a matched family member or unrelated donor, a cord blood transplant might help.	Outcomes after umbilical cord blood transplantation for myelodysplastic syndromes
How to make transplant work best for myelodysplastic syndromes	There are many things to think about before using transplant to treat MDS. Doctors and patients should think about the timing, the donor, the preparative regimen, and the cells.	Transplantation for myelodysplastic syndromes: Who, when, and which conditioning regimens
Transplant outcomes for children and young adults with chronic myeloid leukemia	Transplant outcomes are similar in children and young adults with CML. Transplant works better with bone marrow from sibling donors. Taking TKIs before transplant doesn't affect how well transplant works.	Outcomes of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in children (<18y) and young adults (18-29y) with chronic myeloid leukemia: A CIBMTR cohort analysis

Graft-versus-Host Disease

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a common (sometimes serious) side effect of an allogeneic transplant. GVHD happens when cells from the donor (the graft) see the patient’s cells (the host) as different and attack them. GVHD can occur along a spectrum that includes acute or chronic GVHD.

Summary (PDF)	Important Points	Full Article
New combo of medicines helps transplants succeed Accessible version	Results of clinical trial will change treatments for leukemia and lymphoma	Post-Transplantation Cyclophosphamide-Based Graft-versus-Host Disease Prophylaxis
More people get half-matched blood or marrow transplant Accessible version	New medicines allow more people to get treatment, including people of color	Real-World Data Showing Trends and Outcomes by Race and Ethnicity in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: A Report from the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research.
Medicine may protect digestive organs after transplant Accessible version	Cyclophosphamide helpful after blood and marrow transplant, study shows	Characteristics of Graft-Versus-Host Disease (GvHD) After PostTransplantation Cyclophosphamide Versus Conventional GvHD Prophylaxis.
Current therapies prevent chronic GVHD equally well Accessible version	Better options needed to prevent graft-versus-host disease	Randomized phase III BMT CTN trial of calcineurin inhibitor-free chronic graft-versus-host disease interventions in myeloablative hematopoietic cell transplantation for hematologic malignancies.
Abatacept makes blood and marrow transplant safer Accessible version	Medicine for acute graft-versus-host disease helps more people get BMT	Improved overall survival of patients treated with abatacept in combination with a calcineurin inhibitor and methotrexate following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: Analysis of the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research Database. Tandem Meetings \| Transplantation & Cellular Therapy Meetings of ASTCT and CIBMTR; 2022.
New tool helps doctors decide when to stop medicines	After BMT, many people need immune suppression for more than 5 years	Factors associated with successful discontinuation of immune suppression after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation.
New treatment for GVHD has fewer side effects	Sirolimus treats graft-versus-host disease	Randomized Multicenter Trial of Sirolimus vs. Prednisone as Initial Therapy for Standard Risk Acute GVHD: BMT CTN 1501
Medicines keep away both GVHD and cancer	Three medicines given after BMT work best, according to a clinical trial.	Three prophylaxis regimens (tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and cyclophosphamide; tacrolimus, methotrexate, and bortezomib; or tacrolimus, methotrexate, and maraviroc) versus tacrolimus and methotrexate for prevention of graft-versus-host disease with haemopoietic cell transplantation with reduced-intensity conditioning: A randomised phase 2 trial with a non-randomised contemporaneous control group (BMT CTN 1203)
Transplant prep for follicular lymphoma has less risk	FCR combo before transplant may lower risk of chronic GVHD	Fludarabine and busulfan versus fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab as reduced-intensity conditioning for allogeneic transplantation in follicular lymphoma
Better survival over time for patients with acute GVHD	Treatments for patients with moderate to severe acute GVHD have gotten better over time. Tacrolimus helped patients with moderate acute GVHD live longer.	Improved survival after acute graft vs. host disease diagnosis in the modern era
Less chronic GVHD after cord blood transplant for acute leukemia	Patients had less chronic GVHD after cord blood transplants. Patients who received ATG had less acute GVHD.	GVHD after umbilical cord transplantation for acute leukemia: An analysis of risk factors and effect on outcomes
A new way to measure acute graft-versus-host disease can help doctors predict transplant outcomes	The Refined Acute GVHD Risk Score is a way for doctors to predict the likelihood that: -A patient will be alive 6 months after starting treatment for acute GVHD. -Acute GVHD will get better with steroids	A refined risk score for acute graft-versus-host disease that predicts response to initial therapy, survival, and transplant-related mortality
New blood test can predict the severity of acute graft-versus-host disease	Biomarkers can predict whether acute GVHD will be mild or severe and whether it is likely to respond to treatment.	A prognostic score for acute graft-versus-host disease based on biomarkers: A multicentre study
Risk score for chronic graft-versus-host disease	Researchers created a chronic GVHD risk score.	Chronic GVHD risk score: A Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research analysis

Lymphoma

Lymphoma includes Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). About 9,000 people are diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in the United States each year. It can occur in both children and adults. But it is more common among young adults and older adults. About 69,000 people are diagnosed with NHL in the United States each year. Most of these people are older than 60.

Summary (PDF)	Important Points	Full Article
BMT helps some older people who have lymphoma	Scientists say Medicare should pay for BMT for people older than 65 who have non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).	Outcomes of Medicare-age eligible NHL patients receiving RIC allogeneic transplantation: A CIBMTR analysis.
BMT helps some people with relapsed follicular lymphoma	After 5 years, more people who got an auto transplant or matched sibling donor transplant were still alive than people who didn't get BMT.	Autologous transplantation versus allogeneic transplantation in patients with follicular lymphoma experiencing early treatment failure.
Transplant prep for follicular lymphoma has less risk	FCR combo before transplant may lower risk of chronic GVHD	Fludarabine and busulfan versus fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab as reduced-intensity conditioning for allogeneic transplantation in follicular lymphoma
Two-part transplant helps people with Hodgkin lymphoma	Splitting an autologous transplant into two doses of cells with more medicines may help people live longer than giving one transplant, a review of two studies showed.	Tandem autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation for patients with primary progressive or recurrent Hodgkin lymphoma: A SWOG and Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network phase II Trial (SWOG S0410/BMT CTN 0703)
Allogeneic transplants help some people with follicular lymphoma	American and European doctors agree: Test for HLA type early.	Tandem autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation for patients with primary progressive or recurrent Hodgkin lymphoma: A SWOG and Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network phase II Trial (SWOG S0410/BMT CTN 0703)
Early results suggest people live equally long after half-matched transplants using either peripheral blood or bone marrow	Scientists followed people for two years after transplants for: Acute leukemias, myelodysplastic syndrome, and lymphomas.	Mobilized peripheral blood stem cells versus unstimulated bone marrow as a graft source for T-cell—replete haploidentical donor transplantation using post-transplant cyclophosphamide
Better transplant results with rituximab for people with B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma	Rituximab helped patients live a little longer without the NHL getting worse. Rituximab made no difference in rates of overall survival, GVHD, and relapse	Rituximab-containing reduced-intensity conditioning improves progression-free survival following allogeneic transplantation in B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Transplant from half-matched donors may be as good as matched donors for people with lymphoma	People were just as likely to be alive 3 years after transplant whether they had a matched sibling transplant or a haploidentical transplant. Fewer people got GVHD after a haploidentical transplant.	Reduced-intensity transplantation for lymphomas using haploidentical related donors versus HLA-matched sibling donors: A Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research analysis
More older people with non-Hodgkin lymphoma get transplant	Transplant is a treatment option for healthy older people with NHL	Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation as curative therapy for patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma: Increasingly successful application to older patients
Half-matched (haploidentical) transplant for patients with lymphoma	Patients who had a haploidentical or unrelated donor transplant had about the same 3-year survival. Patients who had a haploidentical transplant had less chronic GVHD.	Reduced-intensity transplantation for lymphomas using haploidentical related donors versus HLA-matched unrelated donors
Patients with relapsed / refractory follicular lymphoma may benefit from a reduced-intensity allogeneic transplant	Auto transplant or reduced-intensity allo transplant can help patients with follicular lymphoma. More than 2 years after transplant, patients who get an allo transplant are more likely to survive than patients who get an auto transplant.	Reduced-intensity allografting as first transplantation approach in relapsed/refractory grades one and two follicular lymphoma provides improved outcomes in long-term survivors
Patients with lymphoma have similar survival after transplant whether the unrelated donor is matched, mismatched, or cord blood	3-year survival was about the same no matter what type of unrelated donor a patient had: matched, mismatched, or cord blood.	Alternative donors extend transplantation for patients with lymphoma who lack an HLA matched donor
Allo transplant helps some patients with DLBCL and follicular lymphoma when chemotherapy and radiation don't	25% of patients with either diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) or grade 3 follicular lymphoma achieved durable remission after an allo transplant when chemotherapy and radiation alone didn't work. Patients are just as likely to survive after transplant with a low dose of chemotherapy and radiation before transplant as with a high dose. Patients have fewer serious side effects from a low dose of chemotherapy and radiation.	Impact of pretransplantation conditioning regimens on outcomes of allogeneic transplantation for chemotherapy-unresponsive diffuse large B cell lymphoma and grade III follicular lymphoma
Allo transplant helps some patients with mantle cell lymphoma when chemotherapy and radiation don't	25% of patients with mantle cell lymphoma went into remission after an allo transplant when chemotherapy and radiation alone didn't work. Patients can do just as well after transplant with a low dose of chemotherapy and radiation as they would with a high dose. Patients have fewer serious side effects from a low dose of chemotherapy and radiation.	Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for chemotherapy-unresponsive mantle cell lymphoma: A cohort analysis from the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research
Outcomes of non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients receiving transplantations from related vs. unrelated donors	Some patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma can get transplant even if they don't have a matched sibling donor.	Alternate donor hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) in non-Hodgkin lymphoma using lower intensity conditioning: A report from the CIBMTR

Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells. Plasma cells are a part of the immune system. More than 22,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with multiple myeloma each year. Most people who have the disease are age 65 or older.

Summary (PDF)	Important Points	Full Article
Overweight not linked to relapse or quality of life after transplant Accessible version	For adults with multiple myeloma, being overweight is not worrisome	Impact of Visceral Obesity on Clinical Outcome and Quality of Life for Patients with Multiple Myeloma: A Secondary Data Analysis of STaMINA (BMT CTN 0702) Trial
For multiple myeloma, BMT is an option Accessible version	People who got early BMT stayed myeloma-free longer than people who got medicines only	Triplet Therapy, Transplantation, and Maintenance until Progression in Myeloma
People who get BMT for multiple myeloma have good quality of life Accessible version	However, some patients still have symptoms more than a year later	Trajectories of quality of life recovery and symptom burden after autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation in multiple myeloma
Single transplant effective for multiple myeloma	Doctors recommend a single autologous blood or marrow transplant followed by only lenalidomide maintenance, instead of more intensive treatments.	Autologous transplantation, consolidation and maintenance therapy in multiple myeloma
Double transplants can be used to treat multiple myeloma	People who got auto-allo transplants lived longer than those who got 2 auto transplants. Ask your doctor what is best for you.	Autologous/allogeneic Hematopoietic cell transplantation versus tandem autologous transplantation for multiple myeloma: Comparison of long-term postrelapse survival
Auto transplants are safe and effective for people with multiple myeloma and damaged kidneys	Auto transplants are safe and work equally well in people with multiple myeloma and damaged kidneys. The treatment can help some people stop dialysis treatments. Higher doses of melphalan can improve results.	Autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation for multiple myeloma patients with renal insufficiency: A Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research analysis
Younger adults with high risk multiple myeloma may benefit from allo transplant	Allo transplant may help people with high risk myeloma or myeloma that comes back early after an auto transplant live longer without the disease. Younger people and people with no myeloma signs or symptoms before allo transplant lived longer without the disease.	Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in multiple myeloma: Impact of disease risk and post allograft minimal residual disease on survival
Second transplant helpful for myeloma relapse	25% of myeloma patients whose cancer returned after their first transplant went into a complete remission after a second transplant. Patients who were in remission for at least 1.5 years after their first transplant lived almost twice as long after their second transplant as patients who relapsed in less than 1.5 years.	Salvage second hematopoietic cell transplantation in myeloma

Other Diseases

Transplant is also used to treat other diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and sickle cell disease. Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, often disabling disease, that attacks the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). More than 2.3 million people are affected by MS worldwide. Most are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50. Women get MS more often than men. Sickle cell disease is an inherited disease of the red blood cells. In the United States, it affects about 70,000-100,000 people. It is most common among people with African or Hispanic ancestry.

Summary (PDF)	Important Points	Full Article
Most children are alive and well after unrelated donor transplant for sickle cell disease Accessible version	Blood or marrow transplant from unrelated donors is an option	Long-term outcomes after unrelated donor transplantation for severe sickle cell disease on the BMT CTN 0601 trial
Blood and marrow transplant can cure sickle cell disease Accessible version	Most people who live for 2 years or longer after their blood or marrow transplant (BMT) are cured of their disease and can expect to live for many more years	Long-term survival after hematopoietic cell transplant for sickle cell disease compared to the United States population
New risk score predicts person's chance that transplant will work to treat sickle cell disease Accessible version	Children who have matched sibling donors are helped most	Risk score to predict event-free survival after hematopoietic cell transplant for sickle cell disease
Certain medicines used for bone marrow transplant (BMT) offer better cure for severe aplastic anemia (SAA)	For people who got BMT from a matched brother or sister, the best medicines were cyclophosphamide together with anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG), given with or without fludarabine.	Choice of conditioning regimens for bone marrow transplantation in severe aplastic anemia.
Blood or marrow transplant can help children with severe sickle cell disease	Matched, sibling donor is best	Effect of donor type and conditioning regimen intensity on allogeneic transplantation outcomes in patients with sickle cell disease: A retrospective multicentre, cohort study.
BMT can treat blood cancers in people with HIV / AIDS	An early study shows that blood or marrow transplant (BMT) is as safe for people with HIV as for those without it.	Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplant for HIV Patients with Hematologic Malignancies: the BMT CTN-0903/AMC-080 Trial.
BMT may protect IQ in children with sickle cell disease	Blood or marrow transplant from an unrelated donor may preserve intelligence in children with sickle cell disease.	Functional and radiologic assessment of the brain after reduced intensity unrelated donor transplantation for severe sickle cell disease BMT CTN 0601
Reduced-intensity transplant prep helps young people with immune system disorders	In this clinical trial, doctors treated people with 5 rare immune disorders: -Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) -Chronic active Epstein-Barr virus (CAEBV) -Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) -Hyperimmunoglobulin syndrome (HIGM1) -Immune dysregulation, polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy and X-linked syndrome (IPEX)	Reduced intensity conditioning for hematopoietic cell transplant for HLH and primary immune deficiencies BMT CTN 1204
Doctors say transplants treat systemic sclerosis or scleroderma	Autologous transplants help people with systemic sclerosis live longer and improve their skin, lungs and quality of life.	Systemic sclerosis as an indication for autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation: position statement from the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation
Auto transplant helps some people with multiple sclerosis	For almost half of people who got auto transplant, their MS didn't get worse for 5 years after transplant.	Long-term outcomes after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for multiple sclerosis
Stem cell transplantation "vital option" for sickle cell patients	Some patients with sickle cell disease do well after a transplant from a matched sibling. Many do not have symptoms of sickle cell disease for at least 5 years after transplant.	Matched-related donor transplantation for sickle cell disease: Report from the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research

Other Topics Related to Transplant

Access to Transplant

Doctors want to make transplant available to everyone who needs it. Research helps doctors know which patients are healthy enough and would benefit from transplant. It also helps doctors know when people don’t have access to transplant and understand why.

Summary (PDF)	Important Points	Full Article
Not everyone with multiple myeloma gets transplants Accessible version	Fewer transplants if people are uninsured, have Medicare, or are Black	Utilization of Autologous Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Over Time in Multiple Myeloma: A Population-Based Study
Overcoming barriers to health care Accessible version	Programs help people get treated for blood cancers and disorders	Reducing barriers of access and care related to hematopoietic cell transplantation and cellular therapy: The mission-driven role of the National Marrow Donor Program
Doctors look for ways to help more people get lifesaving care Accessible version	Blood or marrow transplant (BMT) and other cellular therapies can cure sickle cell disease, blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma, and more	The ASTCT-NMDP ACCESS Initiative: A Collaboration to Address and Sustain Equal Outcomes for All across the Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Ecosystem.
Medicaid does not cover many costs of transplant for people with sickle cell disease Accessible version	Survey shows more coverage needed for life-saving treatment	A qualitative analysis of state Medicaid coverage benefits for allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) for patients with sickle cell disease (SCD).
New treatment may help more people have a safe match for blood and marrow transplant Accessible version	Use of cyclophosphamide after BMT expands access for people of color	A National Marrow Donor Program Sponsored Multi-Center, Phase II Trial of HLA-Mismatched Unrelated Donor Bone Marrow Transplantation Using Post-Transplant Cyclophosphamide.
BMT helps some older people who have lymphoma	Scientists say Medicare should pay for BMT for people older than 65 who have non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).	Outcomes of Medicare-age eligible NHL patients receiving RIC allogeneic transplantation: A CIBMTR analysis.
Auto transplants are safe and effective for people with multiple myeloma and damaged kidneys	Auto transplants are safe and work equally well in people with multiple myeloma and damaged kidneys. The treatment can help some people stop dialysis treatments. Higher doses of melphalan can improve results.	Autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation for multiple myeloma patients with renal insufficiency: A Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research analysis
More older people with non-Hodgkin lymphoma get transplant	Transplant is a treatment option for healthy older people with NHL.	Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation as curative therapy for patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma: Increasingly successful application to older patients
Experts develop transplant guidelines	These recommendations are important guides for doctors and patients as they talk about whether BMT is a treatment option.	Indications for autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation: Guidelines from the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation
Most patients who need an allo transplant can Find a well matched donor	Most patients can find a well matched or a very well matched available adult donor in the Be The Match Registry. It is important to find the best donor as soon as possible, so the transplant isn't delayed. If a very well matched donor isn't available, it is better to use a well matched donor than to wait to try to find a very well matched one.	HLA match likelihoods for hematopoietic stem-cell grafts in the U.S. registry
A quicker transplant with the best donor available is often the better choice	Patients may have better transplant results if they have the transplant sooner with the best donor available, rather than wait for a perfectly-matched donor while their cancer progresses.	High-resolution donor-recipient HLA matching contributes to the success of unrelated donor marrow transplantation
Access to bone marrow and stem cell transplant differs among different groups	Transplants are used more often to treat leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma in Whites than in Blacks. Men get transplants more often than women.	Access to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: Effect of race and sex Race and outcomes of autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation for multiple myeloma

New Therapies: CAR T-cells, Gene Therapy, and More

Now, doctors can modify a person’s cells to fight cancer. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells treat some types of leukemia and lymphoma. Also, doctors are studying gene therapies for sickle cell disease, beta thalassemia and hemophilia.

Summary (PDF)	Important Points	Full Article
Get transplant before trying CAR-T cells for lymphoma Accessible version	Study included adults whose lymphoma continued after 2 kinds of treatment	Autologous transplant versus chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy for relapsed DLBCL in partial remission.
CAR-T therapy for lymphoma, leukemia, works well Accessible version	Large study of tisagenlecleucel shows it helps hard-to-treat cases	Real-world evidence of tisagenlecleucel for pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
CAR-Ts treat some types of lymphoma and leukemia Accessible version	Chimeric antigen receptor T cells, or CAR-Ts, are a new type of cellular therapy	Indications for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation and Immune Effector Cell Therapy: Guidelines from the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy
Medicine for COVID-19 does not raise risk of other infections	Tocilizumab is already used in people with cancer after CAR T-cell therapy	Tocilizumab Not Associated With Increased Infection Risk After CAR T - Implications for COVID-19?

Donor Health and Safety

Doctors are committed to making stem cell donation as safe as possible. More than 99% of donors experience a full recovery.

Summary (PDF)	Important Points	Full Article
Medicine given to donors of blood stem cells is safe Accessible version	7-year study of filgrastim shows it does NOT cause blood disorders	Long-term Outcomes of Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Unrelated Donors Mobilized with Filgrastim
Donating blood-forming cells twice is safe for donors	Your doctor can help you feel well during a second donation. Donating twice is rare.	Donor experiences of second marrow or peripheral blood stem cell collection mirror the first, but CD34+ yields are less
After donating blood-forming cells, older people report similar quality of life as younger people	Siblings 60 and older can donate blood-forming cells. Older donors have similar quality of life after donation as younger donors.	Health-related quality of life among older related hematopoietic stem cell donors (>60 years) is equivalent to that of younger related donors (18 to 60 years): A related donor safety study
Some children who donate cells to a brother or a sister have a lower quality of life and need extra support	About 20% of donors (1 in 5) at each time point had very poor QOL. Parents tended to overestimate their child's QOL. Younger children were more likely to have a lower QOL.	Health-related quality of life among pediatric hematopoietic stem cell donors
How to decide whether a child can safely donate blood-forming cells to a family member	Experts make recommendations to help doctors and parents protect children who might donate blood-forming cells to a sick family member.	Determination of eligibility in related pediatric hematopoietic cell donors: ethical and clinical considerations. Recommendations from a working group of the Worldwide Network for Blood and Marrow Transplantation Association
Bone marrow donors have more side effects at hospitals that do fewer bone marrow collections	Bone marrow donors had more side effects at hospitals that did fewer bone marrow collections.	An analysis of the effect of race, socioeconomic status and center size on unrelated NMDP donor outcomes: Donor toxicities are more common at low volume bone marrow collection centers
Very few donors have severe side effects from donation	Less than 1% of donors have severe side effects from donation. Bone marrow donors have severe side effects 3 times more often than blood stem cell donors. Blood stem cell donors who get G-CSF do NOT get cancer, an autoimmune illness, or a stroke more often than those who don't get G-CSF.	Lower risk of serious adverse events and no increased risk of cancer after PBSC versus bone marrow donation

Donor Selection

Doctors always try to find the best donor for a person who needs transplant. Research helps doctors know which type of person is best: related vs. unrelated, very well matched vs. half matched, older vs. younger. Research also helps doctors know which stem cell source is best: bone marrow vs. peripheral blood vs. cord blood.

Summary (PDF)	Important Points	Full Article
Umbilical cord blood transplants help people of all races Accessible version	Black or African American children may have more side effects	Impact of Race and Ethnicity on Outcomes After Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation
Half-matched transplant helps people with aplastic anemia Accessible version	New treatment combination helps children, adults of all races and ethnicities	Haploidentical bone marrow transplantation in patients with relapsed or refractory severe aplastic anaemia in the USA (BMT CTN 1502): a multicentre, single-arm, phase 2 trial
Second blood or marrow donation may have fewer cells Accessible version	Some people who donate blood or marrow cells twice in 1 year may not be able to give as many cells the second time.	Shorter interdonation interval contributes to lower cell counts in subsequent stem cell donations
More African Americans can get blood or marrow transplant Accessible version	Study shows half-matched and cord blood transplants are acceptable	Optimal Donor for African Americans with Hematologic Malignancy: HLA-Haploidentical Relative or Umbilical Cord Blood Transplant
Finding blood and marrow transplant donors for everyone Accessible version	Haploidentical donors slightly better than cord blood in some cases	Double unrelated umbilical cord blood versus HLA-haploidentical bone marrow transplantation (BMT CTN 1101)
Unlicensed cord blood transplants can help people of color	Umbilical cord blood is safe, effective treatment for many diseases	Unlicensed umbilical cord blood units provide a safe and effective graft source for a diverse population: A study of 2456 umbilical cord blood recipients
For some people older than 50, transplant from young, matched donors is better than half-matched donors	Study looked at ages and types of donors to treat people with acute leukemia	Alternative donor transplantation for acute myeloid leukemia in patients aged ≥50 years: Young HLA-matched unrelated or haploidentical donor?
A transplant from an unrelated donor can treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia	New research may make it possible for more people with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) to get life-saving transplants. In the past, a transplant using blood-forming cells from a sibling was the only well-tested transplant option. New research shows that a transplant from an unrelated donor can help people with ALL live equally long as a transplant from a sibling.	Comparing outcomes of matched related donor and matched unrelated donor hematopoietic cell transplants in adults with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Transplant may be better when it uses bone marrow compared to peripheral blood stem cells from unrelated donors	At 5 years after transplant from an unrelated donor, people who got bone marrow had better quality of life than people who got PBSC. People who got bone marrow: -Were more likely to be back at work. -Said they felt better emotionally. -Had fewer symptoms of chronic GVHD.	Comparison of patient-reported outcomes in 5-year survivors who received bone marrow vs peripheral blood unrelated donor transplantation: Long-term follow-up of a randomized clinical trial
Comparing 2 types of blood and marrow transplant: Double cord blood and haplo-cord	For both types of transplant, about half of patients were alive 1 year after transplant. Patients who had a haplo-cord transplant had less GVHD, and the disease came back less often.	Reduced intensity haplo plus single cord transplant compared to double cord transplant: Improved engraftment and graft-versus-host disease-free, relapse-free survival
Younger unrelated donors are better for transplant patients	The best unrelated donors are aged 18-32 years old and closely HLA-matched to the patient.	The effect of donor characteristics on survival after unrelated donor transplantation for hematologic malignancy
Half-matched (haploidentical) transplant for patients with lymphoma	Patients who had a haploidentical or unrelated donor transplant had about the same 3-year survival. Patients who had a haploidentical transplant had less chronic GVHD.	Reduced-intensity transplantation for lymphomas using haploidentical related donors versus HLA-matched unrelated
Patients with lymphoma have similar survival after transplant whether the unrelated donor is matched, mismatched, or cord blood	3-year survival was about the same no matter what type of unrelated donor a patient had: matched, mismatched, or cord blood.	Alternative donors extend transplantation for patients with lymphoma who lack an HLA matched donor
Most patients who need an allo transplant can find a well matched donor	Most patients can find a well matched or a very well matched available adult donor in the Be The Match Registry. It is important to find the best donor as soon as possible, so the transplant isn't delayed. If a very well matched donor isn't available, it is better to use a well matched donor than to wait to try to find a very well matched one.	HLA match likelihoods for hematopoietic stem-cell grafts in the U.S. registry
Younger sibling donors better for children and teens needing transplants	Children and teen patients who get transplants from their younger siblings get less GVHD than patients who get transplants from their older siblings. For adult patients, it makes no difference if a sibling donor is younger or older.	Birth order and transplantation outcome in HLA-identical sibling stem cell transplantations: An analysis on behalf of the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplantation
SNPs - New information for matching patients and donors for transplant	Many complications of HLA-mismatched transplantation are the result of genes that are not currently tested in the pre-transplant evaluation process of donors and patients. Scientists use SNPs, which are very small changes in the DNA genetic code, to locate unknown genes. Some SNPs are associated with better results after transplantation than other SNPs.	Mapping MHC haplotype effects in unrelated donor hematopoietic cell transplantation
Similar survival for leukemia patients receiving transplants from related vs. unrelated donors	Patients with leukemia who get a transplant from a well matched unrelated donor or from an unrelated donor with a single mismatch should have similar survival to patients who have a related donor.	Outcomes after matched unrelated donor versus identical sibling hematopoietic cell transplantation in adults with acute myelogenous leukemia
Outcomes of non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients receiving transplantations from related vs. unrelated donors	Some patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma can get transplant even if they don't have a matched sibling donor.	Alternate donor hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) in non-Hodgkin lymphoma using lower intensity conditioning: A report from the CIBMTR
Unrelated umbilical cord blood transplants equal to unrelated bone marrow in helping children with acute leukemia	Children with acute leukemia who receive unrelated umbilical-cord blood transplants have outcomes equal to - or in some cases, better than - those treated with bone marrow.	Outcomes of transplantation of unrelated donor umbilical cord blood and bone marrow in children with acute leukaemia: A comparison study
A quicker transplant with the best donor available is often the better choice	Patients may have better transplant results if they have the transplant sooner with the best donor available, rather than wait for a perfectly-matched donor while their cancer progresses.	High-resolution donor-recipient HLA matching contributes to the success of unrelated donor marrow transplantation

HLA Matching and Biologic Factors

HLA matching is used to match patients and donors for transplant. Usually a very close match is best. But sometimes a half-matched transplant is best. Research helps doctors know which match is best.

Summary (PDF)	Important Points	Full Article
Most patients without fully matched donors now have options Accessible version	Younger, mismatched unrelated donors can help close the gap	Expanding donor options: haploidentical transplant recipients also highly likely to have a 7/8 matched unrelated donor
Half-matched BMT better than cord blood in some cases Accessible version	Fully matched donors still the first choice for blood and marrow transplant	Umbilical cord blood or HLA-haploidentical transplantation: Real-world outcomes versus randomized trial outcomes
Fully matched donors best for blood or marrow transplant Accessible version	Half-matched donors are acceptable if no match is found	HLA-haploidentical vs matched unrelated donor transplants with posttransplant cyclophosphamide-based prophylaxis.
Quick testing for a blood or marrow donor helps people with leukemia	People who had fast-tracked tests (cytogenetics and HLA-typing) were more likely to get a BMT.	Rapid donor identification improves survival in high-risk first-remission patients with acute myeloid leukemia.
Transplant from half-matched donors may be as good as matched donors for people with lymphoma	People were just as likely to be alive 3 years after transplant whether they had a matched sibling transplant or a haploidentical transplant. Fewer people got GVHD after a haploidentical transplant.	Reduced-intensity transplantation for lymphomas using haploidentical related donors versus HLA-matched sibling donors: A Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research analysis

Late Effects and Quality of Life

A transplant can have a long-term impact on a person’s health and wellbeing. Late effects are health problems that can happen months or years after treatment. For example, treatment can affect fertility, physical and emotional health, and risk of other cancers.

Summary (PDF)	Important Points	Full Article
After BMT, people need special checkups Accessible version	Side effects may affect physical and emotional health for years	International Recommendations for Screening and Preventative Practices for Long-Term Survivors of Transplantation and Cellular Therapy: A 2023 Update.
Health before transplant is an important part of understanding patients’ recovery and well-being after transplant Accessible version	Quality of life.	Incorporating patient-reported outcome data into a predictive calculator for allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation recipients.
Researchers should ask patients to help plan studies Accessible version	Patients and caregivers have useful advice	Bringing Patient and Caregivers Voices to the Clinical Trial Chorus: A Report From the BMT CTN Patient and Caregiver Advocacy Task Force
People aged 60 and older generally have low distress after BMT Accessible version	A year after blood or marrow transplant, most cancer survivors have low levels of physical and mental distress.	Health-Related Quality of Life Outcomes in Older Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Survivors. Transplantation and Cellular Therapy.
Young adults feel more stress after BMT than older adults Accessible version	People aged 18 to 39 have lower quality of life after blood or marrow transplant	Health-Related Quality of Life in Young Adult Survivors of Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation
Doctors team up to spot graft-versus-host disease Accessible version	Correct diagnosis is key to helping patients feel better	Acute GVHD diagnosis and adjudication in a multicenter trial: A report from the BMT CTN 1202 Biorepository Study.
BMT may affect hormones and sexual health Accessible version	Check-ups and treatments helpful after allogeneic blood or marrow transplant	Male-specific late effects in adult hematopoietic cell transplantation recipients: a systematic review from the Late Effects and Quality of Life Working Committee of the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research and Transplant Complications Working Party of the European Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation.
Care guides can help you manage your health in the months and years after blood and marrow transplant Accessible version	More than 90% of patients and caregivers strongly agreed or agreed that the care guides helped them understand recommended tests at check-up appointments.	Application and evaluation of survivorship care guides for hematopoietic cell transplantation recipients.
People with memory problems need support after transplant Accessible version	In older adults, memory problems may be linked with health after BMT	Geriatric assessment in older alloHCT recipients: Association of functional and cognitive impairment with outcomes.
Guidelines needed for returning to work after transplant Accessible version	87% of transplant centers say return-to-work programs would help patients	Return-to-work guidelines and programs for post-hematopoietic cell transplant survivors: An initial survey.
Teens and young adults need check-ups for side effects, even years after leukemia treatment	Blood or marrow transplant cures leukemia but may have late side effects	Late effects after ablative allogeneic stem cell transplantation for adolescent and young adult acute myeloid leukemia.
In year after blood or marrow transplant, 6-8% regret it	Regret was more likely if cancer returned or if the patient felt less support from family and friends prior to transplant	Prevalence of decisional regret among patients who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and associations with quality of life and clinical outcomes.
Patients, families and caregivers need transplant info	Blood and marrow transplant (BMT) is a highly complex treatment that can affect health for years afterward.	A conceptual framework and key research questions in educational needs of blood and marrow transplant patients, caregivers and families.
Survivorship care plans help transplant survivors	Survivorship care plans helped survivors of blood or marrow transplant have a better quality of life, according to a study.	Randomized controlled trial of individualized treatment summary and survivorship care plans for hematopoietic cell transplantation survivors.
Tailoring care plans for life long after transplant	A survivorship care plan includes possible health issues that can happen months and years after BMT plus ways to watch for and prevent them.	Tailoring a survivorship care plan: patient and provider preferences for recipients of hematopoietic cell transplantation.
Caregivers and patients may have PTSD after transplant	More caregivers than recipients reported symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD can be treated.	Rates and risk factors for post-traumatic stress disorder symptomatology among adult hematopoietic cell transplant recipients and their informal caregivers.
Childhood transplants linked to slightly higher risk of heart problems and diabetes	Scientists urge checkups for cholesterol and blood pressure.	Late cardiovascular morbidity and mortality following pediatric allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation
Quick survey checks your quality of life	Talk with your doctor about how you are feeling physically and emotionally.	PROMIS measures can be used to assess symptoms and function in long-term hematopoietic cell transplantation survivors
After transplant, some people have problems focusing	Cognitive changes after BMT may include altered attention, focus, learning, memory and thinking. Your doctor can help.	Neurocognitive dysfunction in hematopoietic cell transplant recipients: Expert review from the Late Effects and Quality of Life Working Committee of the CIBMTR and Complications and Quality of Life Working party of the EBMT
Common late effects after transplant in very young children	30% of very young BMT recipients have organ damage or other late effects. Common late effects are delayed growth, cataracts, and hypothyroidism. Full-body radiation increases the chance of getting these late effects.	Survival and late effects after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for hematologic malignancy at less than three years of age
Fertility preservation options before transplant	Tell your doctor right away if you want to talk about fertility preservation.	Clinical guide to fertility preservation in hematopoietic cell transplant recipients
Medical guidelines for survivors of stem cell transplantation	This research article describes best practices for follow-up, prevention, and screening of late complications.	Recommended screening and preventive practices for long-term survivors after hematopoietic cell transplantation
Long-term survival after transplantation	Patients are more likely to survive long-term after transplant if: -They get transplant sooner. -They have better disease control and immune system support. -They get less toxic therapy.	Long-term survival and late deaths after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation
Spouses, partners share mental distress of cancer	Spouses of cancer patients suffer distress and depression at levels equal to - or greater than - their partners.	Late effects of cancer and hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation on spouses or partners compared with survivors and survivor-matched controls
Improving health for long‐term survivors of cancer and transplants	Bone marrow or stem cell transplant survivors should actively protect their health. This can help speed up their recovery and improve the quality of their life. It can also lower their risk of developing health problems in later years.	The preventive health behaviors of long-term survivors of cancer and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation compared with matched controls

Social and Financial Aspects of Transplant

Transplant affects more than a person’s physical health. It affects emotional health, ability to work, and finances. Transplant also affects more than the patient. It affects the entire family.

Summary (PDF)	Important Points	Full Article
1 year after transplant or cell therapy, patients’ social lives return Accessible version	Social functioning returns to same levels as before treatment	Social Functioning after Transplantation and Cellular Therapy: Initial Patient-Reported Outcomes Results from the CIBMTR. Poster presentation at Tandem Meetings \| Transplantation & Cellular Therapy Meetings of ASTCT and CIBMTR; 2023-02-16.
Support from family and friends helps patients at cellular level Accessible version	Social support affects the immune system in transplant	Unfavorable transcriptome profiles and social disadvantage in hematopoietic cell transplantation: a CIBMTR analysis.
Half-matched transplant is cost-effective for blood cancers Accessible version	Blood or marrow transplant helps people with lymphoma, leukemia	Cost-Effectiveness of Unrelated Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation versus HLA-Haploidentical Related Bone Marrow Transplantation: Evidence from BMT CTN 1101
Young adults may need help returning to work after BMT Accessible version	3 years after blood or marrow transplant, 60% of young adults are working	Return to work among young adult survivors of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in the United States.
Guidelines needed for returning to work after transplant Accessible version	87% of transplant centers say return-to-work programs would help patients	Return-to-work guidelines and programs for post-hematopoietic cell transplant survivors: An initial survey.
BMT in childhood linked with higher jobless rate in adulthood	In the U.S., survivors had unemployment rates of about 15%. Survivors who had BMT outside the U.S. had even higher rates.	Post‐transplantation employment status of adult survivors of childhood allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant: A report from the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR).
Caregivers and patients may have PTSD after transplant	More caregivers than recipients reported symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD can be treated.	Rates and risk factors for post-traumatic stress disorder symptomatology among adult hematopoietic cell transplant recipients and their informal caregivers.
New consent form helps people talk about treatment options	Easy-to-read consent form leads to better discussions between people and their doctors.	Easy-to-Read Informed Consent Form for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Clinical Trials: Results from Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network 1205 Trial
Transplant often affects family finances	At 2 years after transplant: -Most patients and caregivers thought transplant affected their family finances a medium or large amount. -Half of patients who worked before transplant were back to work.	Financial impact of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation on patients and families over 2 years: Results from a multicenter pilot study
A survey that asks patients about their physical health before transplant may predict how they’ll do after transplant	How patients feel physically before and after transplant affects transplant outcomes.	Patient-reported physical functioning predicts the success of hematopoietic cell transplantation (BMT CTN 0902)
Individualized care plans for transplant recipients: An example of patient-centered research	Patients are involved in every step of the research process. Researchers think the care plans will help patients be healthier and less stressed after transplant.	Patient centeredness and engagement in quality-of-care oncology research
National survey of transplant center resources, staff, and structure	Different transplant centers have different resources, staff, and structure.	National survey of hematopoietic cell transplantation center personnel, infrastructure, and models of care delivery
Patients with myeloma or lymphoma can have excellent outcomes after an outpatient autologous transplant	Outcomes (results) were similar in the inpatient and outpatient transplant groups.	Safety of outpatient autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation for multiple myeloma and lymphoma
Spouses, partners share mental distress of cancer	Spouses of cancer patients suffer distress and depression at levels equal to - or greater than - their partners.	Late effects of cancer and hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation on spouses or partners compared with survivors and survivor-matched controls

Trends in Transplant

Transplant treatment and outcomes change over time as doctors learn more about what works best.

Summary (PDF)	Important Points	Full Article
Transplant patients should get vaccinated for COVID-19 early Accessible version	Shots helpful even when given in the first 4 months after blood or marrow transplant	SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in the first year after hematopoietic cell transplant or chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy: A prospective, multicenter, observational study
Vaccine for multiple myeloma produces cancer-fighting cells Accessible version	1 year after BMT, it’s not clear whether the vaccine stops cancer from worsening	Randomized Trial of a Personalized Dendritic Cell Vaccine after Autologous Stem Cell Transplant for Multiple Myeloma
Mismatched transplant still helpful 3 years later Accessible version	Newer treatment for people who have leukemia, lymphoma, other blood cancers	Three-Year Outcomes in Recipients of Mismatched Unrelated Bone Marrow Donor Transplants Using Post-Transplantation Cyclophosphamide: Follow-Up from a National Marrow Donor Program-Sponsored Prospective Clinical Trial. Transplantation and Cellular Therapy.
Race, genes, and other things affect how well BMT works Accessible version	Ideal circumstances were most common for Japanese patients	Race and survival in unrelated hematopoietic cell transplantation
Tests needed to show when BMT will help older people Accessible version	Blood and marrow transplant is underused in people older than 60	Physicians’ perceptions on candidacy for allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in older adults.
Changes keep BMT safe and available during pandemic Accessible version	Be The Match Registry overcomes COVID-19 challenges	Meeting the Demand for Unrelated Donors in the Midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Rapid Adaptations by the National Marrow Donor Program and Its Network Partners Ensured a Safe Supply of Donor Products
People who had a blood or marrow transplant (BMT) have higher risk dying from COVID-19 Accessible version	Largest study so far shows that most patients survive	Clinical characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 in haematopoietic stem cell transplantation recipients
Blood and marrow transplants during COVID-19 pandemic Accessible version	Experts advise new safety measures for patients and donors	Real-World Issues and Potential Solutions in Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Perspectives from the Worldwide Network for Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research Health Services and International Studies Committee
For people with aplastic anemia, fresh cells rather than frozen are better for blood and marrow transplant	During the pandemic, the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) / Be The Match urges doctors to use frozen cells. However, people with aplastic anemia can still receive fresh cells.	Hematopoietic cell transplantation with cryopreserved grafts for severe aplastic anemia
Freezing cells for blood and marrow transplant saves lives	Study helps people with cancer get life-saving transplants during pandemic; people who got fresh or frozen cells were equally likely to be alive and recovering.	Graft cryopreservation does not impact overall survival allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation using post-transplant cyclophosphamide for GVHD prophylaxis.
More radiation not necessarily better	Irradiation therapy helps most people with leukemia before blood or marrow transplant	Comparison of high doses of total body irradiation in myeloablative conditioning prior to hematopoietic cell transplantation
Intense treatment before transplant linked to infections	More people with leukemia who had intense treatment just before blood or marrow transplant (BMT) got a bacterial infection, compared to people who had less intense treatment	Increased overall and bacterial infections following myeloablative allogeneic HCT for patients with AML in CR1
Better transplant strategies needed for babies	Transplant may cure disease but has side effects	Survival trends in infants undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant.
Doctors say transplants treat systemic sclerosis or scleroderma	Autologous transplants help people with systemic sclerosis live longer and improve their skin, lungs and quality of life.	Systemic sclerosis as an indication for autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation: position statement from the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation
Online tool helps predict liver problems after transplant prep	Researchers at CIBMTR created a free, online VOD Risk Calculator for doctors. Veno-occlusive disease (VOD) is a rare liver problem that may happen after preparation for blood or marrow transplant (BMT).	Risk score for development of veno-occlusive disease after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant.
Treatment helps children and teens with acute leukemia thrive after cord blood transplants	The TCF treatment regimen before cord blood transplant helped young people with acute leukemia live longer.	Umbilical cord blood transplantation in children with acute leukemia: Impact of conditioning on transplantation outcomes
The number of allogeneic transplants for people age 70 years and older are increasing, and outcomes are improving	More older people got BMT between 2000 and 2013. BMT results for older people have gotten better between 2000 and 2013.	Increasing use of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in patients aged 70 years and older in the United States
Better survival over time for patients with acute GVHD	Treatments for patients with moderate to severe acute GVHD have gotten better over time. Tacrolimus helped patients with moderate acute GVHD live longer.	Improved survival after acute graft vs. host disease diagnosis in the modern era
More patients who have a transplant from an unrelated donor survive than in the past	3-year survival after transplant from an unrelated donor has increased over time.	Significant improvement in survival after unrelated donor hematopoietic cell transplantation in the recent era

Study Summaries

Diseases and Conditions

Other Topics related to Transplant

Diseases and Conditions

Acute Leukemia

Cancer in Children and Teens

Chronic Leukemia and Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Graft-versus-Host Disease

Lymphoma

Multiple Myeloma

Other Diseases

Other Topics Related to Transplant

Access to Transplant

New Therapies: CAR T-cells, Gene Therapy, and More

Donor Health and Safety

Donor Selection

HLA Matching and Biologic Factors

Late Effects and Quality of Life

Social and Financial Aspects of Transplant

Trends in Transplant