Which statement is correct about autologous bone marrow transplant?

• A. It uses donor stem cells from a matched donor
• B. It uses the patient's own stem cells
• C. It requires stem cells from an identical twin
• D. It uses donor stem cells from a non-human source

Answer: (B)

In autologous bone marrow transplant, the stem cells come from the patient themselves. The process involves collecting the patient’s own stem cells, usually from peripheral blood, storing them, giving high-dose chemotherapy (often with radiation) to treat the cancer, and then reinfusing the stored cells to restore bone marrow function. Because the cells are the patient’s own, there’s no immunologic mismatch, so the risk of graft-versus-host disease or rejection is minimized. This is different from transplants that use donor cells from a matched donor or an identical twin, which are allogeneic procedures and carry higher risks of immune complications. Autologous transplants are commonly used for certain cancers, such as multiple myeloma or some lymphomas, where rescuing the marrow after intensive therapy is beneficial. The other options describe donor or non-human cells, which do not apply to autologous transplants.