ESTABLISHED FOR DECADES

In 1988 it was conclusively proven that cord blood could be used to replace defective human bone marrow. Since then these haematopoietic (blood) stem cells (HSCs) have become established therapies in several blood diseases, such as leukaemias (cancer of the blood), anaemias (lack of haemoglobin) and some autoimmune diseases (where the body attacks its own cells). By the twentieth anniversary of this success, an estimated 20,000 people have been treated using cord blood transplants.

CURRENT THERAPIES - Successful developments over 20 years

The first validated success in using haematopoietic (blood) stem cells from umbilical cord blood can be traced back to 1988.

At that time, a five year old boy suffering from a rare genetic disorder, called Fanconi’s anaemia, was treated with stem cells from his newly born sister. Today, 20 years after the transplant, the boy not only enjoys good health but his entire blood and immune system was made functional by this transplant.

In 1988, just one disease could be treated with umbilical cord blood stem cells and ten years ago only a handful. Today, umbilical cord blood stem cells have been successfully used in the treatment of more than 70 diseases.

Depending on the specific disease, a decision can be made whether to use autologous or allogeneic transplantation.

Some immune deficiencies (autoimmune diseases, a condition in which the body attacks its own cells) and metabolic diseases can also be treated with stem cells from umbilical cord blood.

In the early days, most treatments used allogeneic (donated) umbilical cord blood. However, the possibility to store umbilical cord blood stem cells opened up the way for autologous treatment.

Not only has the number of such treatments risen immensely in the last couple of years, the list of treatable diseases has expanded also.

Non-blood tumours like retinoblastoma (tumour in the eyes) and neuroblastomas (brain tumours) have recently been added to the list – and the potential use of umbilical cord blood does not seem to end here.

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT 

The amazing speed of research and clinical trials using umbilical cord blood has led to diseases being treated that no one could have predicted.

Trials in metabolic brain disease (Hurler’s, Krabbe’s and Turner’s diseases), cerebral palsy and type I diabetes (also known as juvenile diabetes), have joined the blood diseases in successful therapies.

Furthermore, many of these new treatments are using the patient’s own cord blood.

New, exciting scientific discoveries have shown that in the laboratory, umbilical cord blood cells can even be developed into liver, renal, neural, heart muscle and insulin producing cells.

This finding potentially opens the door for those cells to be used in regenerative medicine.