Can the use of cord blood for adults be enhanced by expanding the number of stem cells in vitro?

Answer: Yes. Many biotech companies are developing techniques to rapidly grow Stem Cells in a laboratory environment. These methods are being used in clinical trials.

Example: Blood & Marrow Transplant Newsletter issue #51 reports on the first adult to survive a Cord Blood transplant with expanded Stem Cells. Published by Pecora et al. 2000 Bone Marrow Transplantion 25:797-799.

References:

• MJ Laughlin et al., 2001; NEJM 344(24):1815-22. Retrospective study of 68 adults who received Cord Blood; 90% engrafted.
• EJ Shpall et al., 2002; Biology of Blood & Marrow Transplantation vol.8:368-376. “Transplantation of Ex Vivo Expanded Cord Blood“. Reports on a clinical trial conducted at the U. of Colorado on 25 adults & 12 children with high-risk diagnosis.
• J Jaroscak et al., 2003; Blood 2003 101:5061-67. Phase I trial on 28 patients of conventional UCB transplants augmented by ex vivo-expanded cells.