Cord Blood Banking for Potential Future Transplantation: Subject Review

Abstract

In recent years, umbilical cord blood, which contains a large number of hematopoietic stem cells, has been used successfully for allogeneic transplantation to treat a variety of pediatric genetic, hematologic, and oncologic disorders. It is a potential alternative when autologous or allogeneic transplantation with HLA-matched marrow is unavailable for children. This advance has resulted in the establishment of not-for-profit and for-profit cord blood banking programs for autologous and allogeneic transplantation. Many issues confront institutions that wish to establish such a program. Parents also seek information from their physicians about this new modality. This document is intended to provide information to guide physicians in responding to parents' questions about cord blood banking. The document also makes recommendations about appropriate ethical and operational standards, including informed consent policies, for the institutions that operate a program.