Placenta•Cord™ banking: Current Uses and Future Promise

Placental and Cord Blood Stem Cell Research
Stem cells are the building blocks of our tissues, blood, and immune system. Unlike other cells in the body, stem cells have the capacity for self-renewal and are capable of forming many specialized cell types such as red blood cells, brain cells, or islet cells.

One of the main therapeutic applications of stem cell transplantation is to replace abnormal bone marrow cells and restore the recipient’s bone-marrow function. Placental and cord blood stem cell research is being conducted to expand future applications of placenta-derived and cord blood stem cells to the field of regenerative medicine, which is aimed at repairing damaged or diseased tissues and organs.

Current Uses
The stem cells that form blood and immune cells are known as hematopoietic stem cells. They are responsible for the constant production of blood through the generation of billions of new blood cells each day. The three sources of hematopoietic stem cells that are routinely used for medical treatments are:

1. Umbilical cord blood
2. Bone marrow
3. Circulating blood

A potential fourth source—and an exciting new breakthrough in stem cell banking—is the placenta (first introduced and made available by LifebankUSA™).

Stem cell transplants have also been used to treat serious diseases in children and adults including various cancers such as acute and chronic leukemia, certain lymphomas, and many other diseases. To date, there are approximately 80 diseases in which stem cell transplants have been used to treat patients.

Placenta and Cord Blood Use in Stem Cell-based Therapy

The Need for Ongoing Research
Ongoing research may lead to new opportunities for using stem cell therapy in conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders.At LifebankUSA, we understand that the value of placental and cord blood stem cell storage depends on the medical advances that are made in stem cell therapeutics, and we have made a commitment to take an active role in the pursuit of those advances through research. We also have collaborations with some of the nation’s premier medical institutions to help advance therapies using stem cells. This heavy emphasis on stem cell research and discovery sets LifebankUSA apart from other companies.

The chance that a child will use his/her own stored cord blood stem cells during their lifetime is estimated at 1 in 400 (J.J. Nietfeld and F. Verter). These odds may increase if there is a family history of certain blood disorders or cancers. The potential risks and benefits of stem cell transplantation vary and depend on many factors, such as the amount and quality of the cord blood stem cells collected, the HLA compatibility between recipient and donor, and the client’s overall health.