Cord blood is a rich source of hematopoietic stem cells, which are immature cells that can develop into all types of blood cells, including white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. These are used in treating blood cancers and related disorders.
These stem cells can restore damaged bone marrow and rebuild the blood and immune systems after long-term cancer treatment. Cord blood stem cells can offer an alternative to bone marrow transplantation, especially when matched donors are unavailable.
Cord blood stem cell transplants are commonly used to treat blood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and myelodysplastic syndromes. These cells may also support treatment for certain pediatric cancers, including neuroblastoma. Additionally, they are used for some inherited blood disorders and immune system diseases.
Stem cell transplants help in the recovery of individuals after high-dose chemotherapy or radiation destroys cancer cells and healthy blood-forming cells. Transplanted stem cells travel to the bone marrow and promote new blood cells. In donor transplants, immune cells may also attack remaining cancer cells, resulting in a beneficial graft-versus-tumor effect.
