Can Umbilical Cord Blood Transplant Treat Blood Cancer?

1. Can Umbilical Cord Blood Transplant Treat Blood Cancer? A new treatment technique involving cord blood transplants, developed in Singapore, could offer patients with diseases such as blood cancers a lower risk of infection and a higher likelihood of surviving the transplant. – The Straits Times This new technique is being known as the Nicord cord blood expansion technique, and it also involves culturing and growing cells from a single unit of cord blood in the laboratory over three weeks to produce sufficient stem cells. This news has brought new hope for Cryoviva cord blood stem cells banks. Stem cell transplant for cancer Stem cell transplants are being used for a long time to treat cancer. Stem cell transplants, including peripheral blood, bone marrow, and umbilical cord blood transplants are often used to treat cancers related to blood or immune system, like leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. Let us get to know something more about it in detail. Why are stem cell transplants used in cancer treatment? Stem cells are found in bone marrow, blood and umbilical cord of new born. They are immature blood cells which have the ability to mature into all types of blood cells. Patients suffering from certain types of cancers, like leukemia, lymphomas, have to undergo high doses of chemotherapy in order to kill cancer cell. However, these high doses are also potential of killing stem cells leading bone marrow to completely stop making blood cells which is indispensable for living. This is where stem cell transplants step in. The transplanted stem cell replaces the body’s stem cells after the body’s stem cells are destroyed during the treatment. Transplant allows doctors to use higher doses of chemo to kill cancer cells. A stem cell transplant, in such cases, acts as a savior for cancer patients. Donated cells often kill cancer cells better than the immune cells of the person. It is known as ‘graft-versus-cancer’ effect. Why are stem cells so important? Stem cells make three main types of blood cells:  Red blood cells (RBCs) – transport oxygen from the lungs to all body parts. Bring carbon dioxide from the cells back to the lungs to be exhaled. White blood cells (WBCs) – Help combat infections caused by pathogens, like virus, fungi, and bacteria. There are different types of WBCs – Neutrophils, Lymphocytes. Platelets– They seal damaged blood vessels and help blood clot which is crucial to stop bleeding.   Thus, you must have understood the important of umbilical cord blood and their banking.