New Technology From CBR Offers Cancer Patients Opportunity to Store Stem Cells

    SAN BRUNO, Calif., Sept. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Cancer patients now have fewer
missed potential treatment opportunities because of ALPS.
    ALPS (Autologous Leukapheresis, Processing, and Storage) is the collection
and cryogenic storage of a person's own peripheral (circulating) blood stem
cells, and increases disease management options available to cancer patients
and oncologists.
    Much heralded in the media lately, stem cells have been used successfully
in transplant for the treatment of a number of cancers and auto-immune
disorders, such as lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and breast cancer.  Stem cells
are the progenitor cells that create the vital components of blood and the
immune system, and one of the fastest growing sources of stem cells for
transplant is peripheral blood.  Typically, peripheral blood stem cell
collection and transplant occurs late in a cancer patient's disease
progression.
    Very often attempts to collect a cancer patient's stem cells just prior to
transplant prove inadequate, resulting in a missed opportunity for transplant
and potentially life-saving stem cell rescue.
    ALPS enables peripheral blood stem cell collection at anytime in a
patient's disease treatment.  Collected stem cells are cryogenically stored
for the future when they may be required for immune support.  This proactive
planning allows patients and doctors the opportunity to potentially consider
more aggressive treatments at anytime in disease progression.
    IS ALPS RIGHT FOR ME?, a free informational brochure for patients recently
diagnosed with cancer, possibly facing high dose chemotherapy, and carefully
considering all their treatment is available through CBR, the nation's largest
stem cell bank.  IS ALPS RIGHT FOR ME? can help cancer patients and their
doctors determine if they are a possible ALPS candidate.  Those interested are
encouraged to call CBR toll free at 877-227-2577 and ask for a free copy.

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