Bone marrow transplants are primarily used in which type of cancers?

Bone marrow transplants are primarily utilized in the treatment of leukemia and lymphatic cancers due to their roles in the production and maturation of blood cells. Leukemias specifically involve the cancerous growth of blood-forming tissues, including the bone marrow, and can lead to impaired blood cell production. A bone marrow transplant replaces the diseased or damaged bone marrow with healthy cells, which can help restore normal blood cell production and improve the patient's immune response.

Lymphatic cancers, such as lymphomas, also affect the lymphatic system, which is integral to the immune system and can necessitate similar interventions to restore healthy blood and immune function. These cancers often require treatments that can affect the bone marrow, making transplants a viable option for these patients.

In contrast, solid mass cancers generally do not involve the bone marrow as a direct site of malignancy and often require different treatment strategies focused on surgical removal, radiation, or chemotherapy targeted at the tumor itself. Skin cancers and breast cancers usually do not reach the stage where a bone marrow transplant would be the primary treatment method.