In an autologous transplant, the patient's own blood stem cells are collected from the bone marrow or peripheral blood and frozen. The patient then receives high-doses of chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy to destroy the cancerous cells. The extracted stem cells are also treated to destroy the cancer cells, and then re-infused into the patient.

Transplantation in which donor and recipient are the same

A procedure in which a patient’s own bone marrow or stem cells are removed for later reinfusion.

Bone marrow transplantation that utilizes healthy cells harvested from the patient before he or she undergoes chemotherapy and/or radiation. (see: bone marrow transplant)

Cell, tissue or organ transplants from one individual back to the same individual. Such transplants do not induce an immune response and are not rejected.