Abstract
Since the first successful clinical use of umbilical cord blood (UCB) in 1988, UCB grafts have been used for over 20,000 patients with both malignant and non-malignant diseases. UCB has several practical advantages over other transplantable graft sources. For example, the ease of procurement, the absence of donor risks, the reduced risk of transmissible infections, and the availability for immediate use make UCB an appealing graft choice. However, UCB grafts suffer from a few limitations related to the limited cell dose available for transplantation in each UCB unit and to defects in UCB stem cell homing. These limitations lead to increased post-transplant complications. In this review, we focus on the issue of limited cell dose in UCB units and discuss the possible approaches to overcome this limitation. We also summarize the various cellular pathways that have been explored to expand UCB units.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
