stem cell mobilization


stem cell mobilization

The stimulation of bone marrow (with intensive cancer chemotherapies or blood-forming growth factors) to release stem cells into the peripheral blood. The cells that appear in the blood can be harvested for use in autologous bone marrow transplantation. Mobilized cells (identified by the cell surface marker CD34) are returned to the patient after chemotherapy or radiation therapy so that the treated patient can ultimately resume making healthy blood cells on his own. See also: mobilization