Cord Blood Stem Cells

As a physician, it is extremely important for you to stay informed about current medical treatments and procedures. Today, medical research into Hematopoietic stem cells, extracted from umbilical cord blood after the birth of a child, and their potential for treating many different types of diseases is ongoing in the medical research community all over the world. Stem Cell Authority Ltd. offers physicians and their maternity patients what no other company in the industry offers - An innovative, proprietary program that emphasizes one-on-one physician-to-patient service, education, and state-of-the-art physician training, along with a legal and ethical financial compensation package for physicians who perform the umbilical cord blood collection procedure for their patients.

Hematopoietic Stem Cells from Umbilical Cord Blood
Hematopoietic Stem Cells are the "building blocks" or "mother cells" that the body uses to create key body components of human blood and the immune system. Stem cells make all the other cells contained in our blood and immune system: red blood cells (for carrying oxygen); white blood cells (for fighting infection); and platelets (for clotting blood).

Cord Blood Stem Cells vs. Bone Marrow Stem Cells
Cord blood stem cells provide a distinct advantage over bone marrow stem cells because they are less likely to cause graft versus host disease ("GVHD") with similarly matched specimens than bone marrow. The immune cells present in cord blood seem to have immunologic immaturity, which reduces the risk of rejection from the host system. In GVHD, donor lymphocytes attack the recipient's tissues leading to rash, diarrhea, jaundice, or a scleroderma-like disease; it is a major cause of morbidity and mortality following transplantation. In unrelated cord blood transplants, there is a 40% chance of GVHD versus 2% for related cord blood transplants, with a 20% chance of chronic GVHD versus 0%, respectively. Umbilical cord blood stem cells also seem to require less stringent HLA matching for unrelated donors¹. Furthermore, the cord blood is a perfect match for the infant from whom it is collected. Siblings have up to a 50% chance of being a suitable match for future transplantation in another sibling in need. Parents and grandparents are potential matches as well. Umbilical cord blood is much easier and less traumatic to collect than bone marrow and the procedure is, by far, much less expensive.

Without stem cells, one cannot survive. Our bodies naturally make stem cells using bone marrow. Chemotherapy and other treatments kill the stem cells along with the disease. If it is ever necessary, cord blood stem cells can be an excellent allogenic alternative to bone marrow transplants. The blood is taken from the baby's umbilical cord immediately after the birth.

Cord blood stem cells can be used instead of stem cells harvested from a painful and time-consuming bone marrow donor procedure. The collection of cord blood is quick, non-invasive, painless and with no risk to the mother or newborn. Preserved cord blood stem cells are available and quickly prepared for transplant when needed. CORD BLOOD STEM CELLS ARE 6 TO 8 TIMES MORE POWERFUL IN FORMING NEW BLOOD CELLS THAN ARE STEM CELLS FROM ADULT BONE MARROW.

Disturbing statistics related to an Environmental Protection Agency conference held in Washington in September 1997 indicate that the incidence of childhood cancers is rising at approximately 1% annually, with leukemias and brain cancers rising 2% to 4% per year. One epidemiologist estimated that the odds of a child developing cancer by age 15 are one in 630.

Overall, every year there are about 8,000 new cases of cancer in children under the age of 15. These children could ultimately benefit from the use of cord blood stem cells².

History of Cord Blood Collection and Stem Cell Storage
The first successful Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cell transplant was performed in France in 1988. A young boy suffering from Fanconi's anemia received a successful transplant from the Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cells of his baby sister³. Cord blood stem cells have been used as successfully as bone marrow to treat many conditions, such as leukemia, anemia, and lymphoma, and may also be useful in gene therapy.

The proven length of time that cord blood stem cells have been successfully stored is 15 years with no reduction in viability. Other cells, such as sperm cells and white blood cells, have lasted much longer when properly stored, but current evidence of successful storage for 15 years is what presently exists.

Since the first cord blood stem cell transplant in 1988, over 2000 stem cell transplants have been performed worldwide⁴. The ability to store cord blood stem cells for the newborn and the family's potential need may be especially significant for those with a family history of leukemia or cancer, families planning to adopt a newborn, or for minority patients, who are underrepresented in the National Marrow Donor Program⁵. The long wait for a bone marrow donor search can mean the patient becomes more ill. If umbilical cord blood stem cells are available in the immediate family or the extended family, the waiting time can be eliminated and a transplant can take place immediately.

   ¹ Wiley JM, Kuller JA Storage of newborn stem cells for future use. Obstet Gynecol. 1997; 89: 300-303.
   ²Freedburg L. Cancer rates for children worry experts. San Francisco Chronicle. Sept. 17, 1997: 1,A13.
   ³Gluckman E, Broxmeyer HA, Auerbach AD, et al. Hematopoietic reconstitution in a patient with Fanconi's anemia by means of umbilical cord blood from an HLA-identical sibling. N Engl J Med. 1989; 321: 1174-8.
   ⁴ Transplant advisory. Cord Blood News 1998; 3(1): 6.
   ⁵ Treating blood disease. Waste not, want not. Economist August 3, 1996