Researchers in Singapore are about to test a new cord blood transplant technique which will help treat patients with certain forms of blood cancer.  The technique could lower the risk of infection after a transplant and increase the patient’s chances of survival.

It is an innovative technique that involves culturing and growing cord blood stem cells before using them in a transplant.  The stem cells are grown over a three week period to dramatically increase their numbers and improve the likelihood of a successful transplant.

At the moment, about one-third of blood cancer patients die despite receive a cord blood transplant.  Many researchers believe that high mortality rate occurs because patients are not receiving adequate doses of stem cells.

The new technique is called the Nicord cord blood expansion technique.  Associate Professor William Hwang from the Singapore General Hospital’s (SGH) Department of Haematology believes that the technique might cut that mortality rate to 10%

Researchers have also discovered that the treatment can reduce the total number of infections after a cord blood transplant.  An initial study found that there were 3.7 infections per patient — down from 4.9 per patient when using standard stem cell transplant techniques.

Another advantage of this new cord blood transplant technique is that it reduces the number of hospitalisation days from 50 to 30.

These initial figures came from a clinical trial using 36 patients.  The new trial will be using a total of 120 patients and runs until December 2019.

If successful, the technique could save thousands of lives each year and reduce the chance of complications from stem cell transplants.

Source: New cord blood transplant treatment holds promise for blood cancer patients