What type of therapy aims to replace or support the function of bone marrow?

Nonmyeloablative therapy is designed to support or replace the function of bone marrow, especially in patients whose bone marrow is compromised due to disease or prior treatments. This approach makes use of lower doses of chemotherapy and/or radiation compared to myeloablative therapy, which destroys bone marrow to make space for new, healthy stem cells.

The goal of nonmyeloablative therapy is to allow for the transplantation of stem cells without causing significant damage to the existing bone marrow, thereby facilitating recovery and engraftment of the transplanted cells. This method is particularly beneficial for patients who may not be able to tolerate the extensive damage that myeloablative treatment entails, such as older patients or those with comorbidities.

In contrast, myeloablative therapy aggressively targets and eliminates the bone marrow, leading to the need for subsequent stem cell transplantation to restore hematopoietic function. Targeted therapy, on the other hand, focuses on specific molecular targets associated with cancer, while hormonal therapy targets hormonal pathways. Neither targeted therapy nor hormonal therapy is intended to replace or support bone marrow function.