What are stem cells?

Stem cells are the cells in the bone marrow that can go on to develop into all the blood cells you need. When bone marrow is damaged, it can no longer produce these cells, and weakness, anemia, infections, excessive bleeding, and even death can result. A stem cell transplant, however, enables physicians to treat these diseases with aggressive chemotherapy and/or radiation by allowing replacement of the diseased or damaged bone marrow after the treatment has been given.

Stem cells that circulate in the bloodstream can be collected and frozen. The physician can then administer high dose chemotherapy and after the chemotherapy is completed the collected stem cells are thawed and given back intravenously.

The procedure to prepare the bone marrow for stem cell collection is called stem cell mobilization. This process usually consists of admission to the hospital for a few days to receive chemotherapy before collection of stem cells. This chemo is usually followed by injections of a growth factor to stimulate the marrow to release stem cells into the general circulation so that they may be collected through an intravenous catheter (apheresis). After this collection, the stem cells are frozen for infusion after high-dose chemotherapy. The procedure of returning the stem cells to the patient looks and acts like a blood transfusion and is given to the patient intravenously (through a tube (catheter) in a major vein).

Am I a candidate for this clinical trial?

In order to be included in the clinical trial patients must meet all eligibility requirements. These include patients who are 60 years old and younger and have extensive disease small cell lung cancer. To obtain a complete listing of eligibility requirements, contact us.