Carl Fox, a 61-year old Superior Court judge from North Carolina is battling an aggressive form of blood cancer called myelodysplastic syndrome. After an unsuccessful search for a compatible bone marrow donor, Fox says his strategy has changed and it now involves the use of umbilical cord blood stem cells to cure cancer.
Judge Fox was diagnosed with cancer last April after seeing a doctor to discuss his unusual weight loss and lack of energy. The symptoms were caused by his bone marrow no longer being able to produce healthy blood cells.
Doctors told him that he needed a stem cell transplant as soon as possible. Because judge Fox is an African American, he has a lower chance of finding a compatible match in the blood marrow donor registry — as low as 60-65%.
Because more white people are registered, they have a greater chance of finding a stem cell match, between 80-85%. Fox went to the media to inform people about the need for more stem cell donors, particularly black people who have the shortage is the greatest.
Cord blood stem cells to cure cancer
Judge Fox now believes his best chances are to use stem cells from cord blood to cure his cancer. Doctors have used high doses of chemotherapy to kill his cancer and will use cord blood stem cells transfusions to rebuild his body’s ability to create healthy blood cells.
It is easier to find a suitable cord blood stem cell match because they are immature cells that are less likely to trigger an immune system response in the recipient. A bone marrow transplant requires a 6 from 8 Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) match, while an umbilical cord blood stem cells transplant only requires a 4 from 6 match to be successful.
The judge is hoping that stem cells from cord blood may save his life as they have done for many others.
Source: Judge turns to cord blood stem cells to help in cancer fight
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