Research Analysis: Access to Genetically-
Cells Increases Odds of Successful Transplant for Family Members
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 10, 2007 - According to the National
Marrow Donor Program, on any given day approximately 6,000 patients
in this country need a stem cell transplant, but can't find a donor.
Many die waiting for a suitable match. Data presented today at the
American Society of Hematology annual meeting highlights the
increasing therapeutic use of autologous (one's own) cord blood stem
cells as well as those classified as related-allogeneic (from a
family member) in both traditional transplant and regenerative
therapies. The study also reinforces the important role of family (or
private) cord blood banks in facilitating genetically-
transplants through related donor programs.
Related donor programs - such as Cord Blood Registry's (CBR)
Designated Transplant Program - allow parents to preserve their
newborn's cord blood stem cells free of charge, for use by a related
family member who has been diagnosed with a disease that can be
treated with stem cells.
The analysis examined processing, storage and transplant recipient
data from CBR, the world's largest cord blood stem cell bank,
including patient diagnosis, age, weight, HLA-match and cell
viability. Transplant centers report engraftment and outcomes data
following each cord blood transplant. From June 1993 to November
2007, CBR released 59 cord blood stem cell units for transplant.
Physicians conducted the transplant procedures at 26 different
transplant centers in 15 states.
"Related donor programs are an underutilized resource in transplant
medicine," said Jennifer Willert, MD, senior attending transplant
physician and clinical professor at Rady Children's Hospital,
University of California, San Diego and lead author of this
study. "It is my hope that this published information encourages more
physicians on the front lines of maternity care to educate their
patients about their cord blood banking options - particularly for
patients who demonstrate a family history of diseases that cord blood
is known to treat and who could benefit from a free, related donor
cord blood banking program."
Of the 59 cord blood units released by CBR, 41 units were used in
related allogeneic transplant while 18 units were used in autologous
treatment. Requested units were used in transplant for a variety of
conditions, including malignant and non-malignant cancers, as well as
regenerative medicine therapies to treat anoxic brain injury,
cerebral palsy, type I diabetes and a rare immune disorder.
Transplant recipients ranged in age from four months to 16 years, the
exception being one 43-year-old. Time of cord blood storage ranged
from one to 114 months. Upon thawing, all cord blood units had a 90
percent or greater viability and showed no infection.
"This analysis confirms that patients who have access to a readily
available source of autologous or related allogeneic cord blood stem
cells have a better chance of securing a suitable donor match," said
study co-author Joseph Rosenthal, MD, Director, Pediatric
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, City of Hope. "As transplant
medicine advances, we will continue to see the important role family
banking plays in allowing us greater access to related cells that
provide more therapeutic options for a range of blood disorders,
cancers and immune diseases."
According to published data, transplantation of genetically-
umbilical cord blood has demonstrated clinical advantages over bone
marrow and unrelated umbilical cord blood. Stem cell transplants from
genetically-
transplants from an unrelated donor and are associated with less
frequent and less severe graft-vs.-host disease, a complication that
occurs when the donor cells attack different parts of the body.
"The growing number of requests CBR is receiving for release of
samples is an important indication that the medical community is
increasingly using autologous and genetically-
cells to help save lives," said Tom Moore, chief executive officer of
CBR. "The value of our service is to ensure that families have access
to related cord blood stem cells that are viable for transplant. This
analysis reaffirms the quality of our processing and, ultimately, the
viability of stem cells we release for medical use for the families
who have needed them."
About Cord Blood Registry's Designated Transplant Program(R)
The Designated Transplant Program(R), a key component of CBR's
corporate responsibility efforts, offers expectant parents the
opportunity to bank the cord blood of their newborn at no cost when
another family member has been diagnosed with a condition that may
require a stem cell transplant. The first charitable cord blood
banking program of its kind, the Designated Transplant Program was
launched in 1996 and currently has nearly 2,000 newborns enrolled in
the program. For a family to qualify for the program, the designated
recipient of the cord blood stem cells must be diagnosed with a
disease currently treated with a stem cell transplant and be a first-
or second-degree blood relative to the newborn (sibling, half-
sibling, parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle). Additionally, the
recipient's physician must verify that the stem cells may be used for
treatment. For qualified families, Cord Blood Registry will process
and store the cord blood stem cells of the newborn in the family at
no cost until they are needed for transplant.
About Cord Blood Registry
Cord Blood Registry(R) (CBR(R)) is the largest cord blood stem cell
processing and cryopreservation service for familial use in
transplantation and regenerative medicine and the most recommended
cord blood bank by obstetricians. Accredited by AABB, Cord Blood
Registry preserves cord blood stem cells for more than 195,000
newborns throughout the world. To date, CBR has released more than 60
client cord blood units for specific therapeutic use, more than any
other family cord blood bank. The company's research and development
efforts are focused on advancing the medical therapies involving cord
blood stem cells as well as the collection, processing and storage
technologies to optimize quality and cell yield. Additionally, CBR
facilitates collection of donated samples, available for research
programs worldwide that are focused on stem cell expansion and other
cell-based therapies. For more information about CBR, visit
www.CordBlood.
Contact
Cord Blood Registry
Laura Zobkiw
Office: 650-635-1420 x1462
Cell: 650-544-6890
lzobkiw@cordblood.
or
David Zitlow
Cell: 650-235-0234
dzitlow@cordblood.
http://www.pharmali
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StemCells subscribers may also be interested in these sites:
Children's Neurobiological Solutions
http://www.CNSfoundation.org/
Cord Blood Registry
http://www.CordBlood.com/at.cgi?a=150123
The CNS Healing Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CNS_Healing
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