A team of researchers from the Faculty of Medicine at the Université de Montréal in Canada have been using cord blood stem cells to improve cancer treatments. They recently published details of the 10-patient cohort study showing how stem cells may help patients with multiple myeloma.
Multiple myeloma is a rare form of cancer that causes plasma cells (a type of white blood cell) to become cancerous and multiply. This form of cancer can damage a person’s immune system, bones, and kidneys. It can also affect a person’s red blood cell count. There is currently no cure for multiple myeloma and life expectancy is typically between 5 to 6 years.
The new trial was performed to help scientists find ways to mitigate the risks of treating multiple myeloma. They decided that using cord blood stem cells to treat multiple myeloma was the best way forward because of cord blood’s unique properties. Cord blood stem cells are easier to transplant compared to other types of stem cells and they quickly help the body produce healthy blood cells again.
How using cord blood stem cells makes allografting easier
Doctors often treat multiple myeloma with stem cell grafts. However, there are several serious side effects that can occur during the allografting process. One of those side effects is graft-vs-host disease (GVHD), where the transplanted cells begin to attack the host’s healthy cells. GVHD can lead to other complications and has a 10 to 20 percent mortality rate. Using cord blood stem cells dramatically reduces the risk of GVHD and other immune system complications.
The Canadian researchers also had another breakthrough which further improves the success rate of cord blood transplants. They discovered a molecule called UM171 which helps them increase the number of stem cells in the laboratory before a transplant. This can increase the success rate when using cord blood stem cells to treat other forms of cancer.
Source: Multiple myeloma: A bold study to make allografting safer and more efficient
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