Stem cells: what they are and their values?

Reasons for choosing cord blood stem cells for treatment
Children with blood-related disorders such as leukemia and inherited blood diseases like Fanconi's
anemia are used for the treatment of cord blood. The patient who is suffering from these types of
diseases is first provided with chemotherapy to destroy the damaged and diseased cells of the body.
Then the young and undifferentiated stem cells are infused into the body of the patient. These stem
cells can treat diseases by regenerating themselves into daughter stem cells which further replace the
damaged cells of the body to repair the tissues and organs.
Therefore, cord blood provides a beneficial option for patients when compared to bone marrow
transplants. The process of collection of cord blood is easier than bone marrow and can be stored when
frozen. The risk of immune failure and infections, including Graft and Host Disease, often seems less
than bone marrow. This means that cord blood does not need to be as perfectly matched to the patient
as bone marrow.
Nevertheless, there are also restrictions on cord blood transplants. Cord blood care for adults usually
requires two cord blood units for treatment. Clinical studies using adult dual cord blood transplantation
have shown similar results to other HSC sources, like bone marrow or peripheral blood mobilized. There
are currently experiments to extend a single blood cord for adult use.