Umbilical cord blood transplantation: application in pediatric patients

Although allogeneic stem cell transplantation can cure patients with hematologic malignancies and nonmalignant disorders, limiting factors such as lack of suitable donors and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) toxicity have led to the exploration of umbilical cord blood (UCB) as an alternative source of hematopoietic stem cells. The unique immunologic properties of UCB likely contribute to a decreased risk of GVHD. Thus, UCB represents a highly convenient hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) source that may significantly expand the HSC donor pool. This overview examines the advantages and disadvantages of UCB as a donor source and outlines the current status of UCB transplantation (UCBT), with emphasis on pediatric practice. Strategies to improve kinetics of hematopoietic recovery after UCB grafting in children and adults are warranted.