Stem cell transplant recipients explain their fate.

• Study reveals changes in transplanted stem cells post-engraftment and mutation over time.
• Results from 16 pairs of donors and recipients suggest similar rates of mutations and clonal expansion for up to 46 years post-transplant.
• Donors’ clonal hematopoiesis, a potential cause of cancer or chronic diseases, is a concern.
• Researchers analyzed blood samples from donors and recipients, with a median of 33.6 years post-transplant.
• All donors had some degree of clonal hematopoiesis variants, but the average mutation rate was similar in donors compared to recipients.
• Findings support the regenerative capabilities of bone marrow.