Allogeneic transplants involve giving the recipient cells from a family donor or an unrelated donor. They therefore require an arduous and difficult process of donor genetic selection.
Unique procedure
Transplant procedures in children are among the unique procedures. About 200 transplant procedures are performed annually in Poland. Indications for transplantation in children include oncological diseases, severe immunodeficiencies, bone marrow failure syndromes and metabolic disorders.
Autologous transplants, on the other hand (as opposed to allogeneic), involve the use of high-dose chemotherapy, followed by transfusion of the recipient's own stem cells obtained earlier during an apheresis procedure.
Important cooperation
The transplants could not have taken place if it were not for the cooperation with the Department of Hematology, Transplantation and Internal Medicine UCC MUW (head: Prof. Grzegorz Basak), the Laboratory of Immunogenetics (head: Dr. Marcelina Grabowska) and the Blood Cell Bank (head: Dr. Elżbieta Urbanowska) of the CCH UCC MUW.
Transplant team
The first allogeneic transplants in the Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Transplantatology UCC MUW were performed by a transplant team consisting of:
- medical staff: Prof. Iwona Malinowska, Dr. Michal Romiszewki, Paweł Józefczuk, MD, Joanna Olszewska, MD
- nursing staff: Joanna Ryba, MA (Ward Nurse and Transplantation Coordinator), Beata Braniewicz, RN, Karolina Ciosk, MA, Iwona Dziadosz, RN, Anna Górzkowska, MA, Milena Konarzewska, MA, Ewa Łukawska-Karp, MA, Irena Osińska, BA, Renata Rozpędek, BA.
To date, the transplant team, led by Professor Iwona Malinowska, has performer 38 autologous stem cell transplants. As a transplantologist, Prof. Malinowska was trained in Bristol, UK, as well as gained experience at major Transplant Centers in Poland.
Hope for patients
The department where the procedures were performed is the leading and largest pediatric leukemia treatment center in the country. Recently implemented procedures will provide comprehensive care for young patients.