Cord blood stem cells versus other stem cells
Stem cells are one of the most fascinating and revolutionary areas of biology today. Scientist are rapidly discovering the many uses of these "Mother Cells" of the human body's blood and immune system. A "hematopoetic stem cell" is the type of stem cell collected from the umbilical cord blood and can both multiply and separate into red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Every month scientist are discovering new and exciting uses for cord blood stem cells.
When are Stem Cells Used?
Patients suffering from a malignant disease such as leukemia may undergo treatment with radiation or chemotherapy to destroy the cancer cells alive in their body. Radiation and chemotherapy treatments are often successful in destroying the cancer cells, however, in the process; they may also destroy the patient’s healthy cells and bone marrow. Bone marrow is essential for the production of blood cells. If the bone marrow is destroyed, either from a malignant, non-malignant or genetic disorder, a stem cell transplant becomes necessary. Transplanted stem cells re-populate the bone marrow thereby replenishing the body's supply of cells which are necessary to maintain a healthy blood and immune system.
How is Cord Blood Different Than Bone Marrow or Peripheral Blood?
Umbilical cord blood stem cells are easier to match than the traditional bone marrow cells. Bone marrow cells must be an exact HLA type match. Almost 70% of patients needing a bone marrow transplant are unable to find a donor using donor registries. It is even more difficult for African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans and other ethnic minorities or mixed ethnicities to locate donors.
Using a family member's stored stem cells gives the patient a higher probability of finding an exact or acceptable match for their transplantation options. The probability that the stem cells will be an exact HLA type match is as follows: an exact match for the child the stem cells were collected from, 1/2 for mother and father of this child, and 1/4 for a sibling of the child whose stem cells are saved.
