Stem Cell Transplant for Hematologic Diseases

Before treatment begins, stem cells will be collected from the donor's blood or bone marrow. The stem cells will be collected and frozen before we start to give the patient chemotherapy. After admission to the hospital, patients will receive total body irradiation (very strong x-rays that kill cells in the bone marrow), Fludarabine and Campath 1H prior to the stem cell transplant (infusion of the donor's stem cells). Starting 7 days after the transplant, the patient will be given G-CSF by subcutaneous injection, until a blood test shows that numbers of granulocytes (a type of white blood cell) in the blood are more than 1,000/uL. This is to help increase blood cell counts. After transplantation, the patient will undergo several evaluations at different times. These are standard evaluations and tests performed for any patient who has received a stem cell transplant, as part of routine clinical monitoring. We will also be looking at the patient's immune function (how the body protects itself to prevent and fight infections and diseases). To do this, blood tests will be performed at regular intervals (every 3 to 6 months) for 2 years. Depending on how well the donor stem cells work in the body after the transplant, the patient may receive one or more Donor Leukocyte Infusions (DLI). This is when leukocytes (a type of white blood cell) collected from the same donor that provided the stem cells are given to the patient through a central line into a vein.