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(Extract from article by David Prentice)
Umbilical cord blood stem cells have become an extremely valuable alternative to bone marrow adult stem cell transplants, ever since cord blood stem cells were first used for patients over 25 years ago. The first umbilical cord blood stem cell transplant was performed in October 1988, for a 5-year-old child with Fanconi anemia, a serious condition where the bone marrow fails to make blood cells. That patient is currently alive and healthy, 25 years after the cord blood stem cell transplant.
Since that time, over 30,000 cord blood stem cell transplants have been done around the world, and transplants have increased for various blood and bone marrow diseases and leukemias, as well as for genetic enzymatic diseases in children. Cord blood stem cell transplants have also become more common for adults with leukemia. Cord blood transplants have been especially helpful for racial and ethnic minorities.
Bone marrow adult stem cell transplants require an exact match between donor and recipient, and it can sometimes be difficult to find a donor match for a patient, especially for minorities. But umbilical cord blood stem cells can be used with some mismatch and still provide successful treatments.**
The Wall Street Journal recently noted the increased interest in umbilical cord blood by scientists and doctors seeking stem cell cures. Besides current treatments, cord blood stem cells are now being studied for their potential to treat many more diseases, including Type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as congenital heart disease and cerebral palsy. The story quotes Dr. William Shearer, professor of pediatrics and immunology at Baylor College of Medicine:
“It’s a disposable item that Mother Nature provides us with… It’s a renewable source. It’s free and why not use it?”
Since the first umbilical cord blood stem cell transplant over 25 years ago, over 600,000 cord blood units have been stored away around the globe for future lifesaving transplants. Just two examples of public programs to collect and store umbilical cord blood stem cells are the National Marrow Donor Program (motto: “You could cure someone’s blood cancer by giving birth”) and the National Cord Blood Program, and additionally there are commercial cord blood storage companies, involved in collection, storage, and research. The data so far show that cord blood stem cells can be stored frozen for over 20 years without loss of potency.
And it’s not controversial. As a recent news story in the Washington Times showed, many more states are turning to ethical, successful adult stem cells, providing real hope and real treatments for thousands of people. One such state, Kansas, last year initiated a unique Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center that will treat patients, do research on new therapies, educate the public and professionals on the advantages of adult stem cells such as those from cord blood and the solid umbilical cord, and train physicians to deliver those treatments. Paul Wagle was appointed by Governor Brownback to represent the patient community on the new Advisory Board for the Kansas Center. Paul received an umbilical cord blood stem cell transplant for his leukemia in 2005. Partly as a result of the successful treatment, Paul developed an interest in science and earned a triple major from Benedictine College in Kansas in 2013, and is now in seminary. The Kansas Center has already treated its first patient and held its inaugural scientific conference.
Here are just a few other examples of the double lifesaving from a born baby and the saved cord blood.
Mary Lou Rusco also received umbilical cord blood stem cells for her leukemia. She received the treatment from doctors at the Kansas University Medical Center, and is now free from leukemia.
Joe Davis, Jr. was diagnosed with sickle cell anemia, at only a few months old. His parents were told that he wouldn’t survive to be a teenager, and they couldn’t find a bone marrow match for him. But along came younger brother Isaac, whose umbilical cord blood stem cells saved Joe Junior’s life.
Chloe Levine received an innovative cord blood stem cell transplant at Duke University to treat her cerebral palsy. She’s now a happy healthy little girl.
**As accurate and meaningful as this excerpt is, it is too conservative in 2014. Yes, in 2010 it may have been considered correct, but today, umbilical cord stem cells (UCSC) are rapidly becoming the adult stem cells of choice at our world- leading 14 clinics. There are two reasons for this: (1) Matching UCSC, as they must for bone marrow transplants, is a waste of time. The ultra-modern, super-clean cutting-edge labs which produce them deliver a product without DNA markers. This means that the receiving patient's immune system cannot reject them as "strange DNA." (2) Even more exciting, is that the stem cell leaders are choosing the rare "mesenchymal" stem cells rather than the commonplace stem cells found in bone marrow, adipose, or umbilical cords because they can become virtually any kind of tissue cell the patient may need. Since the mesenchymal numbers are something like 1/1000 of the common cells, they must be cultured and grown over time---normally 2-3 months with bone marrow and adipose, making the patient wait or make two trips to the clinic. But the new M-UCSC are prepared and delivered to the treating doctors before the patient even arrives, meaning he now gets mesenchymals without any delay!---Repair Stem Cells Institute
Are you or a loved one interested in receiving stem cell treatment? For free information, please fill out our
treatment form or email me
don@repairstemcells.org and just put TREATMENT in the subject box and the MEDICAL CONDITION in the message.
Mr Pyne said he "had never heard of getting stem cells from umbilical cords"
A man who was given 18 months to live after being diagnosed with leukaemia has said his life has been saved by stem cells taken from umbilical cords.
David Pyne, from Baguley, Manchester, was given a transplant of cells donated following births in France and the US.
The 60-year-old, who is in remission, was forced to consider alternative treatments after chemotherapy failed.
He said being told there was a chance that newborns could save his life was "incredible news".
The treatment for patients with cancers such as leukaemia uses donated blood stem cells, usually from adult donors, to replace damaged ones.
'Regenerate bone marrow'
No suitable matches were found for Mr Pyne through a search of his family and a database of other donors.
The grandfather, who underwent the transplant at Manchester's Christie Hospital, said he "had never heard of getting stem cells from umbilical cords".
"To hear that there was a chance that newborns could save my life was incredible news".
In the UK, pregnant mothers are given the option to donate and the use of stem cells to treat cancer is available on the NHS. The Christie has carried out six transplants over the past year.
The hospital's Dr Mike Dennis said the treatment was a "variant of a blood transfusion".
"The cord blood has been frozen anywhere in the world and it can be flown to where the patient is being treated," he said.
"It can then be given to them after the chemotherapy and radiotherapy as a life-saving procedure to regenerate their entire bone marrow."
Since the transplant, Mr Pyne has been treated as an outpatient at the hospital, attending weekly check-ups.
Blood stem cell transplantation is used to restore cells destroyed by some types of cancer and other blood diseases, such as sickle cell anaemia.
After being treated with radiation or high-dose drugs, the patient receives the harvested stem cells, which travel to the bone marrow and begin to produce new blood cells.