Stem cells taken from umbilical cord blood may represent a breakthrough in the treatment of adult leukaemia and other blood diseases. Researchers from a number of US University Hospitals have transplanted cord blood stem cells into 68 adults unrelated to the donor. Published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the study showed that almost a third of those treated survived long term - a similar rate as for bone marrow transplants. It is estimated that between 4000 and 6000 Americans die each year waiting for a bone marrow match.
Because treatment for leukaemia involves the destruction and replacement of the immune system, it can sometimes result in the new immune system 'attacking' the host. Stem cells from umbilical cords are less likely to be attack the 'host' body tissue because they are said to be 'immunologically naive', unlike adult cells. The study showed that this rejection happened to only 18 per cent of the patients, again, about the same as would happen when a patient received a bone marrow transplant from a sibling. This means that it will be easier to match patients up with a donor.
Other advantages to cord blood transplants come from the ease of the collection and storage of the cells, and the lessened ethical difficulty with their use. It was thought that umbilical cord blood did not contain enough stem cells to treat adults, but the researchers have found that even small amounts of blood are enough to generate new immune systems in adults. Dr Andrew Pecora, director of the blood and marrow stem cell centre at the Hackensack University Medical Centre in New Jersey said 'this field will explode', and might overtake or replace bone marrow transplants or other sources of stem cells. Dr Mary Laughlin, leader of the study, commented 'this is even approved by the Pope'.
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