Current Research on Cord Blood Stem Cells

A study by Haller, et al (2009), is currently looking at the effects of autologous cord blood transfusion in children who have type 1 diabetes with no safety concerns highlighted so far but no reports as yet published regarding the efficacy of the treatment. Cardiovascular disease is also being investigated as a potential therapeutic application of umbilical cord blood stem cells. In animal models the umbilical cord blood stem cells have been seen to migrate to injured heart tissue and improve the condition offering hope for those with CVD (Harris, et al, 2007).

Cord Blood and Brain Tumors

A theoretical treatment being trialled in animal models is making use of cord blood stem cells to induce neuron growth and inhibit tumor growth in neuronal tissue (Gondi, 2010). The researchers have observed the development of oligodendroglial cells after transplantation into animals’ brains offering a possible model for multiple sclerosis or other neurodegenerative disease treatments (Bieberich, 2010). Clinical trials looking at the use of umbilical cord blood stem cells for Alzheimer’s Disease, and paediatric neurological injury are also recruiting, as is a study investigating the potential benefits, or risks, of delayed cord clamping for babies with a very low birth weight (NCT00818220) although the majority of the research certainly appears focused on harvesting and using the umbilical cord blood for stem cell treatments.

Several further trials using umbilical cord blood transfusion or transplantation are currently recruiting including trials for leukaemia, other haematological disorders, cerebral palsy, critical limb ischaemia, breast cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, sickle cell anaemia, and thalassemia amongst others. A number of other trials are complete and awaiting publication of results, including research on the use of cord blood serum to promote corneal epithelial wound healing.

Cord Blood and Diabetes

A study in Hong Kong (NCT01046786), which is actively recruiting at the time of writing, intends to look at the use of umbilical cord blood directly injected into the gray matter to treat spinal cord injury. Another trial which is now underway in Florida (NCT00873925) is using an autologous infusion of cord blood along with vitamin D and omega3 to attempt to prolong the ‘honeymoon’ period seen in children with type 1 diabetes.

One study (NCT00890500) is looking at the use of PGE2 to help encourage engraftment of the cord blood stem cells following transplantation. The researchers in this study state that around 10% of those undergoing cord blood stem cell transplantation fail to engraft (the stem cells do not start growing), and that it takes around 21days for engraftment to occur in successful transplants. PGE2 appears to be beneficial in promoting engraftment of umbilical cord stem cells treated in the laboratory.