The marrow cells find their way through the bloodstream to the center of the long bones. Current research at St. Jude Selection and growth of stem cells, the origin of all blood cells, is under study. This procedure would repopulate the patient's body with red blood cells, platelets, lymphocytes and other types of cells that form the body's blood and immune system. New anti-rejection drugs are being used that will be more effective than current drugs and cause fewer side effects. Monoclonal antibodies are used to destroy specialized bone marrow cells in the donor's marrow that might otherwise hurt the transplant recipient.
Monoclonal antibodies allow less perfectly matched donor marrow to be used.
Cell and gene therapy for inherited disorders and for malignant diseases are being combined with marrow transplantation to increase the effectiveness of the process.