The Stem Cell Transplantation Center is staffed with physicians from the Department of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Department of Radiation Oncology as well as a nurse in the blood donation center collecting stem cells, a professional nurse in charge of education and consultation for patients and their families, coordinating schedules and post-transplant care, a manager of the transplantation ward and a researcher in charge of the basic clinical studies.
At SMC, the first allogeneic stem cell transplantation between brothers was carried out on February 8, 1996. On March 11 of the same year, we administered the very first autologous stem cell transplantation. On August 29, the first unrelated allogeneic stem cell transplantation was successfully carried out. Additionally, SMC was the first in Korea to attempt two consecutive autologous stem cell transplantations on a patient of the high-risk solid tumor. Moreover, the Stem Cell Transplantation Center has increased the complete healing rate of the high-risk neuroblastoma from 30 ~ 40% up to 60% or higher only with the autologous stem cell transplantation. We published this result of the world’s highest level in a leading overseas journal.
Since the first umbilical cord blood transplantation on June 26, 2001, we have been actively studying the related fields in Korea. The results are as outstanding as those of the bone marrow transplant. SMC succeeded in the new technique of simultaneously transplanting two different umbilical cord bloods for the first time in Korea on March 2004 in order to overcome the weakness of the umbilical cord blood with a low cell count on a young child with high body weight. This patient is leading a healthy life at the moment without experiencing any problems. In cases where there is no suitable stem cell donor, we administer the haplodentical transplantation where the incompatible stem cell of a parent is used. We also employ the method of simultaneously transplanting a parent’s stem cell together with the umbilical cord blood in case the cell is not engrafted. We are producing successful results by using these methods as well. Since the first administration in 1996, 1,055 stem cell transplantations had been carried out until December 2006. SMC’s Stem Cell Transplantation Center is performing the largest number of transplantations in Korea, such as 160 in 2005 and 179 in 2006.
As for the stem cell transplantation ward, we have 6 aseptic rooms for adult patients, 10 semi-aseptic rooms and 11 aseptic rooms for pediatric patients. We are endeavoring to establish a more pleasant and effective environment for our patients. In the ward, our skilled nurses provide professional and caring service to help patients fight through the arduous treatment processes. The Stem Cell Transplantation Center also has a professional nurse in charge of searching and preparing donors prior to transplantation, general consultation on transplantation and education of patients and their families, making preparations for transplantation and adjusting transplantation schedules. The stem cell transplantation clinic offers systematic and efficient treatment through the management customized and differentiated per each transplantation patient.
As such, the entire staff of the Stem Cell Transplantation Center is exerting the best effort in their own fields and, through excellent teamwork, each one of us is continuously endeavoring to provide a more professional, systematic and efficient service to our patients.