Common misconceptions for cord blood banking
Misconception: "Doctors would never treat the child with his or her own stem cells because it would contain the disease."
Fact:
Thousands of autologous stem cell transplants (using one's own cells) are performed every year for diseases such as leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and many solid tumors. Research from the Journal of Clinical Oncology reports that even with early-onset disease (within twelve months of birth), the child's stem cells are still recommended for use in transplantation.
In the study, autologous stem cell treatments for infants with acute leukemia were just as successful as allogeneic sibling transplants. Autologous stem cells have many advantages as a transplant source, including no risk of graft vs. host disease (GVHD-a leading cause of death for transplant patients), immediate availability, and low risk of the cells being contaminated with disease.
Misconception: "Odds that a family will ever need stem cells from the placenta or cord blood are so low that people shouldn't bother doing it."
Fact:
Considering that the cause of most cancers is unknown and that the science of stem cell therapy is expanding rapidly, it is difficult to accurately calculate the odds that a family will use the cord blood or benefit from new treatments. However, according to medical research, the odds that a child will someday need to use his or her own newborn stem cells for current treatments are estimated at 1 in 4001. Odds that the newborn or a family member may benefit from banked cord blood are estimated at 1 in 2001. These odds do not include the emerging and potential use of newborn stem cells to treat heart disease, diabetes, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and spinal cord injury. The continued progress in medical treatments would greatly increase the likelihood of use by your baby throughout her life. Based on current data, there is no "expiration date" for newborn stem cells.
1Pasquini MC, Logan BR, Verter F, Horowitz MM, Nietfeld JJ. The Likelihood of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HCT) in the United States: Implications for Umbilical Cord Blood Storage. Blood 2005; 106(11): 1330. "What was a discard has become valuable-indeed priceless to many children with leukemia, and perhaps in the future to children with AIDS and autoimmune diseases, such as diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis."
Science, Vol. 268, May 12, 1995
Misconception: "The baby or siblings will never need the stem cells if my family doesn't have a history of cancer."
Fact:
People choose to bank their babies' stem cells in order to provide themselves and their families with an additional safeguard – just in case. The causes for most cancers and diseases are unknown, and in some cases, certain types of cancers are growing at alarming rates2. Recent reports indicate that one in 630 children will get cancer by age fifteen3. Additionally, treatments for cancer only reflect current uses and do not consider the increasing applications and promising stem cells transplant therapies that are in development.
2Lichtenstein, P., et al. Environmental and Heritable Factors in the Causation of Cancer. New England Journal of Medicine. 2000; 343(2):78-85.
3Freedberg, L. Cancer Rates for Children Worry Experts. San Francisco Chronicle. September 17, 1997.
Misconception: "If I bank my baby's cord blood or placenta stem cells, I will be taking it away from the public donor banks."
Fact:
Presently, none of the public banks have not yet developed services to accept placenta stem cells for stem cell use because the ability to successfully store and subsequently extract stem cells from a cryopreserved placenta has not been possible until very recently. Currently, only a small percentage of the four million births every year in the U.S. result in family-banked cord blood, and even if that percentage increases, there will always be a generous cord blood supply for the public banks-if funding is available. More than 90 percent of families do not have access to a public cord blood bank that accepts donations. Other factors also significantly limit cord blood donation eligibility, such as maternal exposure to viruses, tattoos, and international travel. In fact, recent reports from public banks convey that only 30 percent of donated cord blood ends up being banked. The limited cord blood supply in public banks is 100 percent due to lack of funding-not private banks.
Misconception: "There is no reason for me to bank my baby's placenta or cord blood stem cells when public banks can provide donated samples."
Fact:
Presently, none of the public banks are able to provide placenta stem cells for stem cell use because the ability to successfully store and subsequently extract stem cells from a cryopreserved placenta has not been possible until very recently. If autologous cells are not available, or cannot be used, stem cells from a relative (preferably a sibling) are usually the best treatment option. In fact, according to a study in The New England Journal of Medicine, the one-year survival rate for patients treated with a sibling's stem cells is approximately 63 percent. With stem cells from an unrelated donor, the survival rate drops to 29 percent. In addition, unrelated stem cells also put the patient at a much greater risk for developing potentially fatal GVHD (20 percent vs. 5 percent). Related stem cells also reduce the risk that the transplant sample may harbor genetic problems that could cause disease in the recipient because the family will know the genetic history. More importantly, because cord blood and placental stem cells are less mature than adult stem cells (bone marrow), they have a 50 percent likelihood of being a suitable HLA match between siblings, compared to only 25 percent for bone marrow. Public banks can help ensure an adequate sample for transplant but not the best or most preferable sample. When the issue is survival, this is significant. The families who bank stem cells want to help ensure the BEST chance of survival if the cells are needed, not just A chance.
Misconception: "I can donate to a public bank and retrieve the placenta or cord blood stem cells later if needed."
Fact:
Presently, none of the public banks are able to provide placenta stem cells for stem cell use because the ability to successfully store and subsequently extract stem cells from a cryopreserved placenta has not been possible until very recently. If the sample was banked and has not been used for research or by someone else, a family might be able to retrieve their donated sample. For families to make an informed decision, it is important for them to understand that not all donated samples are banked. Multiple studies have shown that more than half of potential cord blood donors are not eligible for donation. As many as 71 percent of donations may be rejected by public banks based on family medical history, maternal medical history, collection volume, and examination of the maternal blood sample (Transfusion, January 2000, Vol. 40:1, 124).
Misconception: "Placenta or cord blood stem cell collection takes important resources away from my baby."
Fact:
The cord blood and placenta stem cells are normally discarded with the umbilical cord after it is clamped and cut. When you ask to have your baby's cord blood and placenta collected, the only change from the normal procedure is that after birth, after the cord is cut, the baby's cord blood and placenta is collected rather than thrown away. Collections generally take place after the placenta has delivered.
to read more:
http://cordadvantage.com/frequently-asked-questions/10-faq/74-common-misconceptions-about-cord-blood.html
Fact:
Thousands of autologous stem cell transplants (using one's own cells) are performed every year for diseases such as leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and many solid tumors. Research from the Journal of Clinical Oncology reports that even with early-onset disease (within twelve months of birth), the child's stem cells are still recommended for use in transplantation.
In the study, autologous stem cell treatments for infants with acute leukemia were just as successful as allogeneic sibling transplants. Autologous stem cells have many advantages as a transplant source, including no risk of graft vs. host disease (GVHD-a leading cause of death for transplant patients), immediate availability, and low risk of the cells being contaminated with disease.
Misconception: "Odds that a family will ever need stem cells from the placenta or cord blood are so low that people shouldn't bother doing it."
Fact:
Considering that the cause of most cancers is unknown and that the science of stem cell therapy is expanding rapidly, it is difficult to accurately calculate the odds that a family will use the cord blood or benefit from new treatments. However, according to medical research, the odds that a child will someday need to use his or her own newborn stem cells for current treatments are estimated at 1 in 4001. Odds that the newborn or a family member may benefit from banked cord blood are estimated at 1 in 2001. These odds do not include the emerging and potential use of newborn stem cells to treat heart disease, diabetes, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and spinal cord injury. The continued progress in medical treatments would greatly increase the likelihood of use by your baby throughout her life. Based on current data, there is no "expiration date" for newborn stem cells.
1Pasquini MC, Logan BR, Verter F, Horowitz MM, Nietfeld JJ. The Likelihood of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HCT) in the United States: Implications for Umbilical Cord Blood Storage. Blood 2005; 106(11): 1330. "What was a discard has become valuable-indeed priceless to many children with leukemia, and perhaps in the future to children with AIDS and autoimmune diseases, such as diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis."
Science, Vol. 268, May 12, 1995
Misconception: "The baby or siblings will never need the stem cells if my family doesn't have a history of cancer."
Fact:
People choose to bank their babies' stem cells in order to provide themselves and their families with an additional safeguard – just in case. The causes for most cancers and diseases are unknown, and in some cases, certain types of cancers are growing at alarming rates2. Recent reports indicate that one in 630 children will get cancer by age fifteen3. Additionally, treatments for cancer only reflect current uses and do not consider the increasing applications and promising stem cells transplant therapies that are in development.
2Lichtenstein, P., et al. Environmental and Heritable Factors in the Causation of Cancer. New England Journal of Medicine. 2000; 343(2):78-85.
3Freedberg, L. Cancer Rates for Children Worry Experts. San Francisco Chronicle. September 17, 1997.
Misconception: "If I bank my baby's cord blood or placenta stem cells, I will be taking it away from the public donor banks."
Fact:
Presently, none of the public banks have not yet developed services to accept placenta stem cells for stem cell use because the ability to successfully store and subsequently extract stem cells from a cryopreserved placenta has not been possible until very recently. Currently, only a small percentage of the four million births every year in the U.S. result in family-banked cord blood, and even if that percentage increases, there will always be a generous cord blood supply for the public banks-if funding is available. More than 90 percent of families do not have access to a public cord blood bank that accepts donations. Other factors also significantly limit cord blood donation eligibility, such as maternal exposure to viruses, tattoos, and international travel. In fact, recent reports from public banks convey that only 30 percent of donated cord blood ends up being banked. The limited cord blood supply in public banks is 100 percent due to lack of funding-not private banks.
Misconception: "There is no reason for me to bank my baby's placenta or cord blood stem cells when public banks can provide donated samples."
Fact:
Presently, none of the public banks are able to provide placenta stem cells for stem cell use because the ability to successfully store and subsequently extract stem cells from a cryopreserved placenta has not been possible until very recently. If autologous cells are not available, or cannot be used, stem cells from a relative (preferably a sibling) are usually the best treatment option. In fact, according to a study in The New England Journal of Medicine, the one-year survival rate for patients treated with a sibling's stem cells is approximately 63 percent. With stem cells from an unrelated donor, the survival rate drops to 29 percent. In addition, unrelated stem cells also put the patient at a much greater risk for developing potentially fatal GVHD (20 percent vs. 5 percent). Related stem cells also reduce the risk that the transplant sample may harbor genetic problems that could cause disease in the recipient because the family will know the genetic history. More importantly, because cord blood and placental stem cells are less mature than adult stem cells (bone marrow), they have a 50 percent likelihood of being a suitable HLA match between siblings, compared to only 25 percent for bone marrow. Public banks can help ensure an adequate sample for transplant but not the best or most preferable sample. When the issue is survival, this is significant. The families who bank stem cells want to help ensure the BEST chance of survival if the cells are needed, not just A chance.
Misconception: "I can donate to a public bank and retrieve the placenta or cord blood stem cells later if needed."
Fact:
Presently, none of the public banks are able to provide placenta stem cells for stem cell use because the ability to successfully store and subsequently extract stem cells from a cryopreserved placenta has not been possible until very recently. If the sample was banked and has not been used for research or by someone else, a family might be able to retrieve their donated sample. For families to make an informed decision, it is important for them to understand that not all donated samples are banked. Multiple studies have shown that more than half of potential cord blood donors are not eligible for donation. As many as 71 percent of donations may be rejected by public banks based on family medical history, maternal medical history, collection volume, and examination of the maternal blood sample (Transfusion, January 2000, Vol. 40:1, 124).
Misconception: "Placenta or cord blood stem cell collection takes important resources away from my baby."
Fact:
The cord blood and placenta stem cells are normally discarded with the umbilical cord after it is clamped and cut. When you ask to have your baby's cord blood and placenta collected, the only change from the normal procedure is that after birth, after the cord is cut, the baby's cord blood and placenta is collected rather than thrown away. Collections generally take place after the placenta has delivered.
to read more:
http://cordadvantage.com/frequently-asked-questions/10-faq/74-common-misconceptions-about-cord-blood.html