Is Bone Marrow Transplant The Cure For All Types Of Blood Cancer?

oncare team
Updated on Jun 26, 2025 18:52 IST

By Raveena M Prakash

Blood cancer is one of the most serious and complex types of cancer, mainly affecting the production of the blood cells. While chemotherapy and targeted therapy are some of the common treatments of blood cancer. One of the controversial questions is whether bone marrow transplant can cure blood cancer! If you have the same question, then read further!

In this article, we’ll discover more about bone marrow transplants, whether bone marrow transplants can cure blood cancer, and their success rates, risk and challenges.

What is blood cancer

Blood cancer is a serious medical condition, and it's a type of cancer that usually affects the blood cells in the body. Most blood cancers are started in the bone marrow of a patient. Bone marrow is a soft, sponge-like material found in the center of the bones. The bone marrow makes stem cells that mature and become one of the following.

Including:

  • Red blood cells
  • White blood cells
  • Platelates 

Studies suggest that blood cancer usually happens when something disrupts how the body is producing blood cells. The cancer cells won’t be able to perform the functions just like the normal cells do. However, the abnormal blood cells multiply rapidly and try to overwhelm the normal ones.

Types of blood cancer

There are mainly three main blood cancer types found in patients, each comes with several subtypes. 

  • Leukemia: This is the most common type of blood cancer and this is the most common form of childhood cancer. 
  • Lymphoma: This is a type of cancer effect in the lymphatic system. The lymphoma cells start in white blood cells called lymphocytes. Lymphoma cells can form tumors in places such as lymph nodes. One of the most common types of lymphoma are Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. 
  • Myeloma: This usually starts in the bone marrow and affects the white blood cells also commonly called plasma cells. One of the common subtypes is known as multiple myeloma.

What is a bone marrow transplant?

Bone marrow transplant is a medical procedure that is used to infuse healthy blood forming stem cells in the body to replace bone marrow which is not producing enough blood cells. Bone marrow transplant is also commonly known as stem cell transplant. 

If a patient’s bone marrow stops working and it does not produce enough blood cells, then the oncologist suggests getting a bone marrow transplant. 

Types of stem cell transplant

There are two types of stem cell transplants, including:

  • Allogenic stem cell transplant: This procedure uses donated bone marrow. 
  • Autologous stem cell transplant: This procedure uses the patient's own healthy stem cells.

Can bone marrow transplant cure blood cancer?

There are studies that claim that a bone marrow transplant, also commonly called a blood stem cell transplant, can treat or cure more than 75 types of blood cancers and blood-related diseases. There is constant research to advance the science of transplant procedures so more treatments can be treated with peripheral blood stem cells, bone marrow, and cord blood.

A bone marrow transplant may also be used in several conditions; including:

  • This procedure safely allows cancer treatment with high doses of chemotherapy or radiation by replacing the bone marrow damaged by the treatment. 
  • This procedure is used to replace bone marrow that’s not working with new stem cells. 
  • It provides new stem cells, which helps to kill the cancer cells directly.

Is it suitable for all types of blood cancers?

Bone marrow transplants can benefit several people with a variety of both cancerous and non-cancerous. 

Including:

  • Acute leukemia
  • Aplastic anemia
  • Chronic leukemia
  • Hemoglobonopathies
  • Hodgkin lymphoma
  • Immune deficiencies
  • Multiple myeloma
  • Myelodyplastic syndromes
  • Neuroblastoma
  • Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
  • Plasma cell disorders
  • Primary amyloidosis

Success rates of bone marrow transplantation

The success rates of bone marrow transplants usually depend on the type of blood cancer, and each type of blood cancer has different subtypes. India is known for its high success rates of bone marrow transplantation, approximately 60% to 90%.

Risks and challenges

A bone marrow transplant can sometimes cause several risks in patients. Some patients might experience minimal problems with a bone marrow transplant, while others can have some serious complications which sometimes require immediate treatment or hospitalization. In some cases, these complications are life-threatening.

Common treatments for blood cancer

Common blood cancer treatments include:

  • Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is primary blood cancer treatment. It destroys the cancer cells to slow down the disease’s progress or completely eliminate the cancer. The doctors team use different types of chemotherapy drugs for different types of blood cancer. 
  • Radiation therapy: This treatment uses radiation to damage the DNA in abnormal cells so they can’t make the copies. The oncologist might use radiation to ease the symptoms, commonly known as palliative care. It often combines radiation therapy with other treatments. 
  • Immunotherapy: This type of treatment method stimulates the immune system better at fighting cancer. There are some commonly used immunotherapies for the treatment of blood cancer including monoclonal antibodies and CAR-T cell therapy. 
  • Targeted therapy: These types of cancer treatments aimed to target the cancer cell that relate to abnormal genetic mutations. 
  • Autologous stem cell transplant: The doctors collect the bone marrow stem cells from the body before giving high doses of chemotherapy. Once chemotherapy starts to destroy or kill the cancer cells, they will give healthy stem cells back to you. It helps to develop into healthy blood cells. 
  • Allogeneic stem cell transplant: In some cases, the damaged bone marrow needs to be replaced with healthy bone marrow. The doctors identify a suitable bone marrow and try to use the donor’s cells to replace your damaged bone marrow.

Consult Today

Is bone marrow transplant a cure for blood cancer? The answer is yes, in some cases. It is sometimes considered as a cure for blood cancer. Especially when the treatment is performed in an early stage under the right conditions. It brings hope for blood cancer patients to attain remission or even a miraculous cure.

However, it's not a universal solution for all types of blood cancer; sometimes it also comes with some significant risks. Understand that each patient and their cancer journey is different and unique, and treatment should be personalized.

At Oncare, we offer premium quality cancer treatments, including cancer surgeries at affordable price packages with experienced cancer specialist consultation.

If you or loved ones are diagnosed with cancer, then visit Oncare Cancer Center and book an appointment with our cancer specialists today. Get an estimated cost of your blood cancer treatments today!

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