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Cord Blood Stem Cells

Co-transplantation of third-party umbilical cord blood-derived MSCs promotes engraftment in children undergoing unrelated umbilical cord blood transplantation

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 48, pages 1040–1045 (2013)Cite this article

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Abstract

Success of umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT) has been limited by a high rate of graft failure and delayed hematological recovery. It has been postulated that MSCs have hematopoiesis-supportive properties. Therefore, to overcome the limitation of UCBT, third-party UCB-derived MSCs were co-transplanted in recipients receiving unrelated UCBT. Seven patients received UCB and third-party UCB–MSCs. Hematopoietic recovery and transplantation outcomes were compared with historic controls. There was no acute toxicity associated with the infusion of MSCs. The median day to neutrophil engraftment was 19 days in patients, as compared with 24 days in controls (P=0.03). The median day of platelet engraftment was 47 days and 57 days in patients and controls, respectively (P=0.26). In addition, there was no engraftment failure in the MSC group. The incidence of acute and chronic GVHD was comparable between the two groups. However, veno-occlusive disease and TRM did not occur in the MSC group. Third-party UCB–MSCs infusion was safe and feasible. MSCs may also enhance the engraftment of UCBT and prevent rejection. In addition, MSCs may have a role in decreasing TRM. Randomized, controlled trials are required to confirm these results and longer follow-up will determine the effects of MSCs on the risk of relapse.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by a grant from the National R&D Program Cancer Control, Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family affairs, Republic of Korea (0520290), and by a grant from the Korea Health 21R&D Project, Ministry of Health, Welfare and Family affairs, Republic of Korea (0405-DB00-0101-0016). This paper was presented at the 2011 BMT tandem meeting in Hawaii.

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  1. S H Lee and M W Lee: These authors contributed equally to this work.

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  1. Department of Pediatrics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    S H Lee, M W Lee, K H Yoo, D S Kim, M H Son, K W Sung, H Cheuh & H H Koo

  2. Biomedical Research Institute, MEDIPOST Co, Ltd, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    S J Choi, W Oh & Y S Yang

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MWL, KHY, HHK, SJC, WO and YSY designed the research; SJC, DSK and WO performed the cell culture and expansion; SHL, MHS, HC and KWS performed the clinical trial; SHL and MWL collected and analyzed the data; SHL, MWL, KHY, KWS, HHK, MHS, HC and YSY interpreted and discussed the data; and SHL wrote the manuscript.

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Lee, S., Lee, M., Yoo, K. et al. Co-transplantation of third-party umbilical cord blood-derived MSCs promotes engraftment in children undergoing unrelated umbilical cord blood transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant 48, 1040–1045 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/bmt.2013.7

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