Bone marrow transplants have been used to treat leukaemia since the 1950s.  The stem cells contained in bone marrow allow the patient’s body to produce healthy blood cells after they have been treated with chemotherapy or radiology.

Scientists realised that cord blood stem cells may also be used to treat leukaemia in the 1980s.  A new study suggests that receiving a cord blood transplant may actually lead to better outcomes for patients compared to bone marrow transplants.

The conventional approach to treating leukaemia is to replace a patient’s bone marrow via a bone marrow transplant.  Doctors must find a compatible bone marrow donor, which can be difficult at times.  Initially, doctors look for a match within the patient’s family, but in 70% of cases a suitable bone marrow match cannot be found.  Doctors then have to turn to unrelated donors and in some cases a matching donor is never found.

Because umbilical cord blood contains much younger cells compared to bone marrow, it is less likely to trigger an immune system reaction.  That means it is easier to find a matching donor for a cord blood transplant. 

Obtaining umbilical cord blood is also a simple and pain-free procedure — unlike obtaining bone marrow, which does involve pain for the person donating the cells.

A new study compares the chances of a patient having their cancer return after being treated with bone marrow stem cells or cord blood stem cells.  It found that patients were less like to see their cancer return if they had been treated with cord blood stem cells.

The long-term survival rates of patients being treated with cord blood stem cells was also higher than that of patients being treated with non-matching bone marrow or a stem cell transplant from an unrelated donor.

The findings highlight the power of cord blood and may lead to an increase in cord blood transplants.

Source: Cord-blood transplants show promise in leukemia treatment

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