Bone Marrow Transplant Service
Indications for BMT 
A wide range of diseases, predominantly blood and bone marrow cancers, are treated successfully with BMT.
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common indication in Australia for allogeneic transplantation. BMT may be recommended for selected patients in first remission of AML after initial chemotherapy, or later if the disease relapses. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is another common indication, particularly in adults, where the results of chemotherapy are not as good as those in children. Again, allogeneic BMT may be offered in first remission in some patients, or after disease relapse.
Chronic myeloid leukemia used to be a common indication for allogeneic BMT, but recently this is now only recommended for patients who fail to respond to Glivec treatment. Multiple myeloma is now the most common indication for autologous transplantation, and is usually done as part of initial therapy. Less commonly, allogeneic BMT may be offered to selected younger patients with myeloma, who have failed to respond to other treatments.
Lymphomas, particularly non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), is a common indication for autologous BMT. Allogeneic BMT may be offered to selected younger patients with low grade NHL. Patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma relapsing after chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy may be recommended autologous BMT.
Allogeneic BMT is also considered for a variety of other bone marrow diseases, such as aplastic anemia and myelodysplasia. Allogeneic or autologous BMT may be considered for certain other cancers, such as testicular or germ cell cancers, and renal cell cancer.
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Last updated: 10th July, 2007
