Should you privately bank your child’s stem cells, you should keep all paperwork associated with the process in a readily available folder or envelope, whether or not a transplant is ever needed. This way, the contact information, stem cell unit number, etc. will be readily available.

How do I release privately banked stem cells for transplant, if needed?

To request your child’s cord blood and placenta-derived stem cells for transplantation, you or the transplant center must first call the cord blood bank to request that your cord blood stem cell units be released. The cord blood bank will then coordinate the details with the transplant center, such as necessary testing and the delivery date. This may take only a few days, or as little as 24 hours in an emergency.

After signatures are obtained from the parent or guardian, the cord blood bank will ship the cord blood stem cell unit(s) to the transplant center via a specialized medical courier. The courier service should use liquid nitrogen dry shippers, which are designed to safely transport stem cell units at cryogenic temperatures. This stands in sharp contrast with the bone marrow transplant process, which requires an average of 4 months to locate a matching unit and transplant the stem cells, assuming a donor is available.

How does the stem cell transplant process work?

A successful stem cell transplant process begins with a conditioning or preparative regimen designed to suppress immune reactions and eradicate the recipient's disease. If the transplant comes from a donor instead of using the recipient's own stem cells, additional immunosuppressive medications may need to be administered.

The stem cells are then infused into the blood stream through an intravenous catheter. The transplanted cells circulate in the blood stream and travel to the bone marrow. Bone marrow transplants utilize a large dose of stem cells. For a cord blood transplant, just few ounces of the stem cell unit need to be used for transplant.(5)

Engraftment takes place as the cells integrate into the surrounding tissue in the bone marrow. At this point, the stem cells will begin to grow and produce new red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Within a few weeks, the need for therapeutic transfusions may be alleviated as blood cell counts rise toward normal. If the transplant is a success, the stem cells will continue to produce new, properly functioning blood cells as needed for the rest of the recipient's life.

You or a loved one may never need a stem cell transplant. However, understanding the transplantation process will help you take steps to protect your family’s future health and will enable you to be better prepared should the need ever arise.

Sources:

(1) The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Cord blood stem cell transplantation. Available at: http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/attachments/National/br_1128624081.pdf. Accessed October 29, 2007.

(2) Wagner, J, et al: Blood 2000 (5):1611-1618

(3) Lower risk of infectious disease transmission with USB vs BM stem cells. Behzad-Behbahani,A, et al., Transplantation Proceedings.37(7): 3211-3212, 2005.

(4) Gluckman E, Rocha V, Boyer-Chammard A, et al. Outcome of cord blood transplantation from related and unrelated donors. N Engl J Med. 1997; 337:373-381.

(5) The National Cord Blood Program. Comparison Between Bone Marrow or Peripheral Blood Stem Cells and Cord Blood Donated for Transplantation. Available at: http://www.nationalcordbloodprogram.org/qa/comparison.html . Accessed October 29, 2007.

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