Proven Results Today
Stem cell transplants have been in the news only recently. But this history of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation goes back to the first bone marrow transplant in 1968. Followed by the first peripheral blood cell transplant in the early 1980s. And the first umbilical cord blood transplant in 1988.
The science of cord blood preservation and transplantation has continued to progress. Today, cord blood transplants have clinically proven to save lives.
In John Wagner's study, 44 pediatric patients with life-threatening lympho-hematopoietic disorders received allogeneic sibling cord blood transplants. The survival rate was 62%, with only 6% of patients experiencing graft vs. host disease. These were outstanding clinical results compared to historical bone marrow transplant data.
Gluckman's research analyzed the outcome of cord blood transplantation from related versus unrelated donors. Gluckman found that the survival of related recipients were nearly than twice that of unrelated.1 The same study also showed far less incidence of graft vs. host disease with related transplants. These results should be taken into account when considering the benefits of cord blood preservation for families versus public banking.
And recent research studies demonstrate that cord blood can be frozen for at least 15 years without loss of cell viability.2
ViaCord is particularly proud of the 225 transplants and infusions to date using units processed and released by ViaCord and CHORI, the Childrens Hospital Oakland Research Institute.
1 Source: Gluckman, et al. New England Journal of Medicine, 1997; 337:373
2 Source: Broxmeyer et al. PNAS, January 21, 2003, Vol. 100, no. 2 645-650