Can the use of cord blood for adults be enhanced by expanding the number of stem cells in vitro?
Yes. Many biotech companies are developing techniques to rapidly grow stem cells in a laboratory environment. These methods are being used in clinical trials. Example: Blood & Marrow Transplant Newsletter issue #51 reports on the first adult to survive a cord blood transplant with expanded stem cells. Published by Pecora et al. 2000 Bone Marrow Transplantion 25:797-799. References: • MJ Laughlin et al., 2001; NEJM 344(24):1815-22. Retrospective study of 68 adults who received cord blood; 90% engrafted. • EJ Shpall et al., 2002; Biology of Blood & Marrow Transplantation vol.8:368-376. “Transplantation of Ex Vivo Expanded Cord Blood”. Reports on a clinical trial conducted at the U. of Colorado on 25 adults & 12 children with high-risk diagnosis. • J Jaroscak et al., 2003; Blood 2003 101:5061-67. Phase I trial on 28 patients of conventional UCB transplants augmented by ex vivo-expanded cells.
