What is the purpose of conditioning/preparative therapy?

Conditioning or preparative therapy serves to prepare a patient for successful stem cell transplantation. This process typically involves administering chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy to achieve two main goals: to eradicate the patient's existing disease, such as cancer, and to create space in the bone marrow so that the newly transplanted stem cells can engraft effectively.

This therapy reduces the risk of the patient's immune system rejecting the new cells and also aims to suppress any remaining cancer cells. The intensity and specific regimen of conditioning therapy can vary depending on the type of transplant being performed (e.g., autologous or allogeneic) and the underlying disease.

While enhancing the effect of chemotherapy and providing palliative care are important aspects of comprehensive cancer treatment, they do not specifically address the unique requirements for preparing a patient to receive stem cell transplants. Similarly, preventing the occurrence of side effects is a vital consideration in cancer treatment but is not the primary focus of conditioning therapy, which is primarily aimed at preparing the patient’s body for the transplantation process.