Stem cells are cells in the bone marrow that create blood cells. During a stem cell transplant, stem cells are collected from the patient or from a donor (mobilization and collection). The patient then receives intensive chemotherapy or other medications to destroy the majority of cancer cells (conditioning). After induction therapy, the patient receives the original stem cells through an infusion (stem cell infusion day) and the infused cells start producing healthy blood cells, rebuilding the immune system. 

In CAR T-cell therapy, a type of immune blood cell called T-cells are removed. These cells have the ability to find specific proteins on the cell surface and “mark” them to be destroyed. T-cells are removed from the patient’s body, although in the future using T-cells from a donor may be possible. The cells are sent to a lab where they are modified to specifically target myeloma cells. They can target them thanks to their affinity for specific cell surface proteins, such as BCMA.  

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The Myeloma ASCT Guide