September marks Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, a time to shine a light on the realities faced by children and families impacted by cancer, and to highlight the advances in treatments and research that bring hope.
Smart Cells, Netcells sister bank in the UK and Dubai, is part of the FamiCord group - the largest cord blood bank network in Europe1, extending to the Middle East. The FamiCord group has been able to provide therapies using a wide variety of stem cell tissue types since its inception in 1997, showing firsthand how stem cells are changing the landscape of treatment for childhood cancers and other serious illnesses.
To-date, FamiCord has released 244 umbilical cord blood units and 1 939 umbilical cord tissue units for transplant.
Of the 244 cord blood units, 48% were released for standard stem cell transplant therapies (such as thalassemia and Sickle Cell disease, leukaemia, immune disorders and brain tumours), while 52% were released for regenerative medicine – such as Cerebral Palsy, brain injuries, Autism and auto immune disorders.2
The 1 939 processed cord tissue cells (mesenchymal stromal cells - MSCs) were released for therapies in clinical trials and hospital exemption programmes.3
Therapies include Cerebral Palsy, autism, spinal cord injuries, spina bifida, graft vs host disease, muscular dystrophy, and joint cartilage repair.
The global trend of stem cell therapy is shifting toward regenerative medicine opening the door to a broader range of potential therapies from stored umbilical cord blood and tissue. This provides families with the comfort that their investment has enormous potential – not only for the treatment of life-threatening diseases such as cancer, but also for supporting long-term health and improved quality of life.
As we recognise Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we are reminded of the critical role that stem cell therapies play in treating cancers like childhood leukaemia - and of the hope that stem cell banking can bring to families facing these diagnoses.
References:
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Baran T. The story behind FamiCord becoming the largest cord blood bank in Europe. Parent's Guide to Cord Blood Foundation Newsletter Published 2022-10
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https://parentsguidecordblood.org/en/news/famicord-has-released-over-7550-stem-cell-therapies
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Verter F. FamiCord: Europe’s largest cord blood bank and largest manufacturer of cord tissue MSC therapy. Parent's Guide to Cord Blood Foundation Newsletter Published 2018-10
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