Disadvantages of umbilical cord blood (UCB) as hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) for allogeneic transplantation.
The limited number of hematopoietic progenitor cells contained in collected UCB units may contribute to failed and delayed kinetics of donor hematologic engraftment and restrict its use in adult recipients.
Future development of potential abnormalities of the newborn donor’s HSC into adult life and their effects on the recipient, is unknown at the time of transplant.
It is not feasible to collect additional donor HSC for patients experiencing graft failure, nor donor lymphocytes for recipients who relapse after initial UCB allografting.
The limited number of hematopoietic progenitor cells contained in collected UCB units may contribute to failed and delayed kinetics of donor hematologic engraftment and restrict its use in adult recipients.
Future development of potential abnormalities of the newborn donor’s HSC into adult life and their effects on the recipient, is unknown at the time of transplant.
It is not feasible to collect additional donor HSC for patients experiencing graft failure, nor donor lymphocytes for recipients who relapse after initial UCB allografting.