Glossary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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Allele
An allele is an alternative form of a gene (one member of a pair) that is located at a specific position on a specific chromosome and determines a distinct trait that can be passed on from parents to offspring.
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Allograft
A transplant using cells taken from a healthy donor and given to a patient. Sometimes called a Graft
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Autograft
A transplant using the patient’s own cells. Stem cells are collected, diseased cells removed and healthy cells returned to the patient.
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Autologous
A transplant using the patient’s own "cleaned up" stem cells.
Blood cancers
A term for cancers that affect the blood, bone marrow and lymphatic system. There are three main kinds of blood cancer – leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma.
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Bone marrow
Found in the centre of all large bones. It is where primitive blood stem cells (blood stem cells) are produced. Blood stem cells develop into the red and white cells in the blood.
Chemotherapy
The use of chemical substances to treat disease. In its modern-day use, it refers almost exclusively to drugs that are used to treat cancer.
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Confirmatory testing
If a potential donor comes up as a match for a patient in need of a transplant, a confirmatory ‘blood’ test will help establish if he/she is the best available match.
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Cord blood
Following the safe birth of a baby, cord blood is the blood extracted from the detached umbilical cord and placenta, by trained professionals. The blood is rich in stem cells. These stem cells can be used for lifesaving transplants for patients with leukaemia and serious blood disorders.
Donor
The person who donates their bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells for transplant to a patient.
Engraftment
The acceptance of the donor’s healthy blood stem cells when they are infused into the patient’s own blood stream. If they are engrafted, the donor’s blood stem cells then begin to produce normal blood cells.
G-CSF
If a donor chooses to donate their peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC), they receive an injection of Granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-SCF). This activates and increases their blood stem cell production, encouraging the cells to move from their bone marrow to their circulating blood. They'll then be collected for transplant to a patient.
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Graft
Another name for the bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells that are taken from the donor and given to the patient.
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GvHD
Graft versus host disease. A patient’s immune system normally identifies 'foreign' cells in their body, such as bacteria or viruses, and attacks them, helping to protect against infection. Sometimes, following a graft, the patient's new immune system recognises the patient's old cells as being different. If this happens, the donor's white cells, living in the patient, will attack the patient (its host)..
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GvL
Graft versus Leukaemia (GvL) is a beneficial immune response in which white blood cells from the donor attack and destroy the patient's leukaemia cells.
Haematology
Study of the blood.
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Hematopoietic stem cells
These stem cells reside in bone marrow, which is found in the long bones of the body and are also found in umbilical cord blood. They are responsible for producing red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.
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Haplo-identical
Stem cells taken from a donor, usually a sibling, which are not a perfect match for the recipient. A haplo-identical transplant is a 3/6 match.
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Harvest
The process of taking the bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells from the donor. The two procedures are bone marrow transplant or donation of peripheral blood stem cells.
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Hickman line
A hollow tube inserted into a vein to give chemotherapy or blood.
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HLA
Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) is the name for the molecules which have to be matched between the donor and the patient. These molecules exist in many similar but different forms.
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Host
The patient (recipient) who receives donated stem cells.
Immune system
The biological system in your body that protects it against and fights disease caused by bacteria, viruses and tumours.
Leukaemia
Leukaemia is a cancer of the white blood cells. The four main types of leukaemia are:
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Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) - a cancer of immature lymphocyte cells - lymphoblasts.
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Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) - a cancer of the immature myeloid cells. This disease occurs mainly in adults but can also affect children.
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Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) - a cancer of the lymphocyte cells. The most common type of leukaemia affecting adults. Very rare in children.
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Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) - a cancer of the neutrophils cells. Rare in children
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Lymphoma
Cancer of the white blood cells localised in the lymph nodes.
Match
When the patient and donor have the same tissue (HLA) types.
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Mis-match
When the patient and donor have different tissue (HLA) types.
Pathogens
Commonly known as a germ, a pathogen is a biological agent that causes disease to the body.
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Peripheral blood stem cells
The blood stem cells that circulate in the body. Often abbreviated to PBSC.
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Phenotype
A phenotype is any observable characteristic or trait of an organism such as its form, structure or behaviour. Phenotypes result from the expression of an organism’s genes as well as the influence of environmental factors and the interaction between the two.
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Phlebotomist
Phlebotomists are specialists who collect blood from people for examination in laboratories. When they work with Anthony Nolan, they take blood samples from potential matches. The samples are then taken to our laboratories for testing..
Radiotherapy
The treatment of disease by radiation.
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Red blood cell
A cell type present in blood involved in transporting oxygen throughout the body.
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Related donor
A donor who is ‘blood-related’ to the patient - often a sibling.
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Remission
The patient’s condition when their disease is 'on the mend'.
Saliva Kit
Our potential donors now use a saliva kit, which involves spitting into a tube. The kit is then sent to our labs for testing to determine the potential donor’s tissue type.
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Saliva Testing
This is the testing we do on saliva samples to determine the tissue type of each potential donor.
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Stem cell
Stem cells have the potential to turn into any cell, regenerating dying cells and repairing any damaged by disease.
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Stem cell transplant
A stem cell transplant is an infusion of healthy stem cells which is fed into the patient’s body via a tube. It usually takes around one hour.
T cells (T lymphocytes)
A type of white blood cell that fights diseases including tumour cells.
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T reg cells (T regulatory cells)
A type of T cell that can control or regulate the body’s immune response. T reg cells are possibly important in patients who receive stem cell transplants in controlling the development of graft versus host disease (GVHD), infection and/or disease relapse.
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Tissue-type
An individual’s tissue-type is defined by the characteristics of six genes (A, B, C, DRB1, DQB1 and DPB1), collectively known as the human leukocyte antigen group (HLA). Testing for HLA groups, known as tissue-typing, is usually performed on a small blood sample and involves analysing the genes that code for the HLA proteins.
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Transplant
Surgical transfer of living cells.
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Transplant centres
The hospitals where the donors donate, and the patients receive, their stem cells. For confidentiality and anonymity, the patient and their specific donor are always treated in separate transplant centres.
Unrelated donor
A donor who is not blood related to the patient. Approximately 70% of all patients in the UK who receive a stem cell transplant receive it from an unrelated donor.
White blood cell
A type of cell present in blood involved in the immune response to fight infection.