Milestones in Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation
An article on hematopoietic cell transplantation by Karl G. Blume, MD, and these accompanying milestones were published in December 2008 as part of the special ASH anniversary brochure, 50 Years in Hematology: Research That Revolutionized Patient Care.
| 1868 | The bone marrow is first described as blood-forming tissue. |
| 1939 | The first clinical marrow transplant is attempted, but unsuccessful. |
| 1949- 1956 |
The humoral and cellular hypotheses of marrow reconstitution are debated. |
| 1956- 1959 |
Efforts are renewed in marrow grafting in human diseases. |
| 1956- Present |
Advances in marrow grafting through animal studies in murine and canine models. |
| 1968- 1969 |
The first successful allogeneic HCT procedures are performed in patients with severe combined immunodeficiency diseases. |
| 1975 | The first large series of allogeneic HCT for leukemia is performed. |
| 1977, 1980 |
Successful HCT procedures from unrelated marrow donors. |
| 1978 | The first series of successful autologous HCT for lymphoma is performed. |
| 1987, 1989 |
Isolation of the murine and human hematopoietic stem cells is achieved. |
| 1990 | The Nobel Prize in Medicine/Physiology is awarded to E. Donnall Thomas for the development of HCT as a curative therapy for life-threatening hematologic disorders. |
| 2008 | More than 800,000 patients have been transplanted worldwide during the past four decades. |
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