24th July 2024

Classification of HSCT

HSCT can be autologous or allogeneic.

In autologous transplants, a patient’s own stem cells are harvested and transplanted back into the patient after high-dose chemo(radio)therapy.

In allogeneic transplants, HSCs are harvested from a donor and transplanted into the recipient patient. Recipients need to be HLA-matched to the donors to reduce risk of rejection and graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). HLA-matched related donors are preferred. If a matched related donor cannot be found, then matched unrelated donors are searched for. Minimally mismatched donors (related or unrelated) are sometimes tolerated if no other suitable donor is found.