why is cord blood so valuable?
While radiation and chemotherapy treatments are often successful in destroying cancer cells, they may also destroy the patients' healthy cells and bone marrow. Bone marrow may also be affected by disease. Bone marrow is essential for the production of blood cells and if diseased or depleted a stem cell transplant is necessary. If successful the transplanted stem cells will re-populate the bone marrow thereby replenishing the body's supply of blood-forming cells and immune function. In the past bone marrow has been used to provide stem cells for transplantation, however, today, virtually all donations are done via blood derived stem cells, usually from a sibling, sometimes the patient, but also from unrelated donors. However, many patients experience complications arising from rejections i.e. the transplanted stem cells produce disease in the patient (where the stem cells are not the patients own stem cells).
Cord blood can be collected and the stem cells separated and stored until required. Cord blood stem cells have the ability to treat the same diseases as stem cells derived from the blood of individuals (adults or children), but since a person's own stem cells represent a perfect match the risks of rejection are eliminated. Cord Blood is also much easier to collect, as there is no need for surgery or donor in-patient care.