In the 1970's medical researchers found the human umbilical cord contained the same kind of stem cells found in bone marrow. Stem cells get their name for their ability to develop red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Because stem cells from the bone marrow have already been successfully used to treat patients with life-threatening diseases, researchers found that they could also uses stem cells from the umbilical cord to save patients lives.
In 1988 doctors transplanted the umbilical cord blood into a 5-year-old boy suffering from Fanconi's anemia. Ten years after the transplant, the boy is still alive and seems to be cured of his disease. Based on other transplants, doctors and medical researchers began to collect, freeze and store cord blood units at cord blood banks around the world. As of fall 1998 there were about 22,000 cord blood units collected. Approximately 700 unrelated donor and 150 family related donor cord blood transplants have been performed.
Today, these transplants are referred to by the name of stem cell transplants. There are two different types: marrow transplants and cord blood transplants.
Sadly, 70% of patients who need a stem cell transplant do not have a suitable donor in their family. The National Marrow Donor Program helps identify stem cell donors for patients who do not have a related donor. These transplants require matching certain tissue traits of the donor and the patient. These traits will most likely match if someone is the same heritage. It is obviously more difficult in minority races like American Indian, Asian, African American, Hispanic and Latino. This collection and storage of cord blood is a great way to give patients of all racial and ethnic backgrounds greater access to steam cell transplantation. Because it is so difficult to find a match, during the mid 1990's medical institutions around the world made a serious effort to collect and store cord blood units for a transplant.
With over 30 years of history, bone marrow transplants are well-established and have been saving lives for a wide range of blood disorders such as leukemia and aplastic anemia, as well as certain immune system deficiencies and genetic disorders. There is great evidence that suggests that the transplants can cure diseases too. However, with cord blood there are more unknowns and the doctor and patient must carefully evaluate the situation before deciding if a transplant would be the best decision.
We know that cord blood contains sufficient numbers of stem cells for engraftment in most recipients under 110 pounds. Collection of this cord blood poses no health risk to the mother or infant donors. Because the cord blood is stored and available for use, the cord blood is often more readily available than the potential marrow or blood system donor. Cord blood rarely is contaminated by viruses often found in marrow.
We don't know if cord blood is sufficient for engraftment in most adult recipients. Also we don't know whether cord blood transplants pose a different risk of relapse compared to the bone marrow transplant .
With this new advancement, cord blood transplants will continue to save lives and as it gains more research, can perhaps do even more.
By Jessica Maughan