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Cytology

New Study Confirms Efficacy of Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cells in Leukemia Treatment

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Researchers from the Medical College of Wisconsin, in collaboration with the National Marrow Donor Program, have conducted a new study confirming the viability and effectiveness of stem cells derived from umbilical cords as a transplant source for leukemia patients with no other treatment options. According to Mary Horowitz, MD, senior author of the study, nearly 16,000 leukemia patients diagnosed annually in the US require a bone marrow transplant, but have no matched relative or can't find a match in the national registry. The study, which analyzed treatment results in over 500 adult leukemia patients, compared outcomes of cord blood stem cell transplants with two groups: patients who had fully matched unrelated bone marrow transplants and those who had one antigen-mismatched unrelated bone marrow transplants.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that cord blood stem cell transplants resulted in the same (22%) survival rates as one antigen-mismatched unrelated bone marrow transplants in adult leukemia patients, indicating the efficacy of cord blood stem cells when bone marrow donors are unavailable.
  • Survival rates were highest (33%) for patients who received fully matched unrelated bone marrow transplants.
  • The study used data from over 500 adult leukemia patients undergoing transplants in the US during a 6-year period ending in 2001.
  • The findings were published in the New England Journal of Medicine, providing renewed hope to adult patients without a sibling stem cell donor.
  • Cord blood transplantation provides leukemia patients with stem cells, enabling them to produce healthy blood cells, a procedure shown to be highly effective in children with the disease.
  • The availability of cord blood makes it a logical choice for doctors and their patients when a matching bone marrow donor cannot be found.
  • Approximately 20,000 leukemia patients nationwide need transplants but only 20% of them have a sibling match, leaving behind a large group (about 16,000 patients) who are forced to seek donors from a marrow donor registry.

Statistics:

  • Nearly 16,000 leukemia patients diagnosed annually in the US require a bone marrow transplant but have no matched relative or can't find a match in the national registry.
  • The study analyzed treatment results in over 500 adult leukemia patients.
  • Survival rates for cord blood transplants were 22%, compared to 33% for fully matched unrelated bone marrow transplants.
  • About 20% of leukemia patients have a matching sibling donor, leaving behind a large group of patients who need alternative transplant sources.
  • Cord blood transplantation provides leukemia patients with stem cells, enabling them to produce healthy blood cells in a highly effective procedure.

Sources:

  • NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net, 2004 DEC 20
  • Laughlin MJ, Eapen M, Rubinstein P, et al., Outcomes after transplantation of cord blood or bone marrow from unrelated donors in adults with leukemia. N Engl J Med, 2004;351(22):2265-75.

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