About Cord Blood Donation for Cancer Research

The blood from a baby's umbilical cord is an important source of stem cells. It provides a rich source of blood-forming cells that are used in transplants for those suffering from lymphoma and leukemia as well as many other diseases. These stem cells make it possible to regenerate blood cells and in turn boost the immune system of cancer patients who have undergone chemotherapy or radiation. Unlike the controversial stem cell harvesting from human embryos, cord blood donation has found wide approval. The number of large cord banks increases in the United States every year.

Cord Blood Research and Cancer Types

• Cord blood has been used most often in research and treatment of various types of leukemia and lymphoma. The excellent outcomes involved with these cancers provide hope that many more diseases will benefit from research using cord blood. Some of the most exciting research today using cord blood involves ovarian cancer, small-cell lung cancer, testicular cancer, brain tumors and renal cell carcinoma. These cancers are among the most deadly of diseases. New parents are often encouraged to donate their newborn's cord blood to a public bank for use in established treatments as well as for research. Proponents of cord blood harvesting believe it may be the key to curing many life-threatening illnesses.

Process

• Cord blood is taken directly following the birth of a child. It is collected after the cord is cut and in no way disrupts childbirth. The harvesting is generally performed by the physician overseeing the birth and is typically accomplished using a syringe. As the procedure is done following the clamping and cutting of the cord, neither the baby nor mother are disturbed in any way. Collection usually takes only five minutes.

Private and Public Banks

• Hospital staff routinely question new mothers and fathers if they want to bank their newborn's cord blood. Typically parents are given a brochure describing the process. They are informed about private and public forms of donation. In the case of private banking, the parents are required to pay a fee to have their child's cord blood obtained and stored. The benefit of private banking is that the blood is available for use by the family at any time. Public banking, on the other hand, carries no cost and is a donation that is used for research or treatments. Parents do not retain any rights to this blood. Most are encouraged to make public donations as the chance their child or a family member may eventually use privately banked blood is slim, unless there is a genetic-based reason for retaining it.

Misconceptions

• Many assume that cord blood is routinely collected and used by doctors and researchers, but this is not the case. Umbilical cords are discarded if parents do not sign a consent form allowing the cord blood to be collected and stored. Another misconception is that the blood collected is needed by the baby. This statement is untrue, because the blood is only taken after the cord has been clamped and cut.

Potential

• The promise held for stem cells in scientific research is extensive. Researchers are racing ahead with the knowledge gleaned and with information from the treatments developed. Stem cells from cord blood are able to differentiate into whatever type of cell is needed. The potential exists for rebuilding entire organs and generating living tissue.