Perspectives

Nature Reviews Cancer 8, 555-563 (July 2008) | doi:10.1038/nrc2418

Science and societyBanking on cord blood stem cells

See also: | Correspondence by Nietfeld | Correspondence by Harris | Author's Reply by Sullivan | Correspondence by Patrinos |

Michael J. Sullivan1  About the author

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Umbilical cord blood gifted to non-profit public cord blood banks is now routinely used as an alternative source of haematopoietic stem cells for allogeneic transplantation for children and adults with cancer, bone marrow failure syndromes, haemoglobinopathies and many genetic metabolic disorders. Because of the success and outcomes of public cord banking, many companies now provide private cord banking services. However, in the absence of any published transplant evidence to support autologous and non-directed family banking, commercial cord banks currently offer a superfluous service.

Author affiliations

  1. Michael J. Sullivan is at the Children's Cancer Research Group, and Children's Haematology Oncology Centre, Department of Paediatrics, Christchurch School of Medicine, University of Otago, 2 Riccarton Ave, Christchurch, 8005, New Zealand.
    Email: michael.sullivan@otago.ac.nz

Published online 12 June 2008

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