Bone marrow donation is one of the most painful processes you can go through. It's necessary though, to fight certain cancers and blood disorders, such as lymphoma. Scientists are now researching something that could be a bit of a game changer in the process; it is believed that aspirin and drugs similar to aspirin may improve the success rate of stem-cell transplants.
So how does this work?
Well, doctors already have a drug called filgrastim to stimulate the haematopoietic stem cells in donors or in people who are receiving their own stem cells, according to writer Thea Cunningham for nature.com. However, doctors say, "In patients with multiple myeloma or non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, however, and in some donors, stem cells don’t mobilize well with filgrastim and other drugs in its class. Using NSAIDs such as meloxicam could enhance filgrastim’s efficacy."
Why is it important?
Bone marrow transplant is still a tricky process that we are continually trying to figure out to increase its success rate. If this method is proven to be very effective, it could change the lives of many people--increasing life expectancy for cancer patients and making bone marrow transplant a very viable option.
Photo creds: http://www.x-ald.nl/treatment-options/hsct/; http://askdrnandi.com/tag/aspirin/
Article cred: http://www.nature.com/news/painkillers-mobilize-blood-stem-cells-1.12600
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