Glossary for U.S. Transplant Data

Phrases and terms are organized by the report in which they are used:

Used in All Reports

Cell Source

Where the blood-forming cells used for transplant are collected from.

• Bone marrow produces blood-forming cells for the body. The bone marrow for a transplant is collected from a donor's hip bone during a surgical procedure in a hospital.
• Peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) are found in the bloodstream. Normally, the bone marrow releases a small number of blood-forming cells into the bloodstream. A donor receives injections of a medication that increases the number of blood-forming cells in the blood. Then, the donor's blood is collected in a non-surgical procedure done in an outpatient clinic.
• Umbilical cord blood contains a large number of blood-forming cells. Cord blood is collected in a hospital after a baby is born.

Disease Status

A measure of how the disease responded to treatment before the patient received a bone marrow or cord blood transplant.The disease status can help predict the likelihood of a better or worse survival outcome after transplantation.

In these reports, disease status is included only for leukemias and lymphomas.

Disease Statuses for Leukemia

The different phrases used for Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) are included.

• 1st remission (1st chronic phase for CML) – The disease responded well to treatment. There is no clinical evidence of leukemia.
• 2nd remission (2nd chronic phase or accelerated phase for CML) – The disease recurred after responding well to initial treatment. After further treatment, there is no clinical evidence of leukemia.
• Not in remission (blast phase for CML) – The disease is not responding to treatment.
• Unknown – The disease status was not available.

Disease Statuses for Lymphoma

• In remission – The disease responded well to treatment. There is no clinical evidence of lymphoma.
• Not in remission – The disease is not responding to treatment. There is still some evidence of lymphoma.
• Unknown – The disease status was not available.

Donor Type

Genetic relationship between the patient and the donor who provided the blood-forming cells.

• Autologous – The patient's own cells were collected.
• Allogeneic – A volunteer donated cells. Specific allogeneic types include:
  
  
  • HLA-matched sibling – A brother or sister of the patient donated cells. These cells match the patient’s human leukocyte antigen (HLA) type.
  • Other related – A member of the patient’s family who is related genetically donated the cells.
  • Unrelated – A volunteer donated bone marrow, peripheral blood stem cells or a cord blood unit.

Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)

Proteins on cells that make each person's tissue unique.

HLA typing is used to match patients and donors for a bone marrow or cord blood transplant. (A person's HLA type is identified by testing a blood sample or swab of cheek cells.)

Patient Age

Age of a patient at the time of a bone marrow or cord blood transplant. These reports provide the age in 10-year intervals. “Unknown” means the age was not reported.

Patient Gender

The sex of a patient: male or female. “Unknown” means the gender was not reported.

Patient Race

Race or ethnicity of a patient. These reports have only two categories:

• White, for Caucasian
• Non-white, for all other races and ethnicities

Specific to the U.S. Patient Survival Estimate Report

95% Confidence Interval

A range of numbers that represents the statistical certainty of the survival probability estimate, based on the data reported.

For example, a 95% confidence interval of 65 - 75% means there is 95% certainty that the survival probability estimate is between 65% and 75%.

Number of Patients Evaluated

Number of patients for whom medical information was observed at 100 days after their bone marrow or cord blood transplant and voluntarily reported to the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research® (CIBMTR).

Survival Probability Estimate

The best estimate of the chance that a person will be alive at a specified time after transplant. This estimate is based on the data reported. View an example.