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UMBILICAL CORD STEM CELLS - A REALITY TODAY, A FUTURE FULL OF POSSIBILITIES
The first Umbilical Cord Blood (UCB) Stem Cell transplant was performed in 1988 and, since then, more than
30,000 transplants have been performed worldwide. Around the globe, hundreds of clinical trails are being
undertaken to evaluate the use of umbilical cord blood in treating hematologic and non-hematologic diseases.
UCB Stem Cells can be used in Autologous (same person's stem cells) or Allogeneic (donor's stem cells)
transplants, including Stem Cells from a sibling or other family member. In 1997 a study proved that one-year
survival rate is more than twice as high if patient receives a cord blood stem cell transplant from a relative
(63%) vs. an unrelated donor (29%). (Gluckman et al, 1997)
UMBILICAL CORD BLOOD
ACTUAL USE IN MODERN MEDICINE
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
63%
29%
SURVIVAL RATE: UMBILICAL CORD BLOOD TRANSPLANTS
Related Umbilical
Cord Blood
Transplantation
Unrelated Umbilical
Cord Blood
Transplantation
E. Gluckman et al. (1997) N. Engel, J.Med
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
3%
42%
GRAFT vs HOST: UMBILICAL CORD BLOOD TRANSPLANTS
Related Unrelated
Kutzberg (1996), Wagner (1995), Laghlin (2001)
