Successful engraftment of cryopreserved autologous bone marrow stem cells in man
Graze, P.R.; Wells, J.R.; Ho, W.; Gale, R.P.; Cline, M.J.
Transplantation 27(2): 142-145
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-1337 PMID: 380074 Document Number: 145602
A patient with disseminated oat cell carcinoma of the lung was treated with an intensive course of combination chemotherapy and total body irradiation, followed by reinfusion of previously cryopreserved autologous bone marrow cells. This patient's prompt hematological recovery demonstrated that human pluripotent stem cells retain functional capacity following prolonged cryopreservation. A procedure was developed for preparing and cryopreserving large quantities of human bone marrow for autotransplantation. A patient treated with otherwise lethally marrow toxic therapy has had reconstitution of bone marrow hematopoietic function after the reinfusion of bone marrow cells cryopreserved by this procedure. The experience demonstrates that human pluripotent stem cells retain functional capacity following prolonged cryopreservation. The bone marrow cryopreservation and autotransplantation procedure may now permit innovative trials of intensified antineoplastic therapy which may lead to improved cancer treatment results.