Saving the cells that count
MANILA, Philippines - My siblings and I still have our umbilical cords in the first baby albums to commemorate our births. After decades, these are expectedly desiccated, unrecognizable, brownish-black, and quite disgusting to look at. But while sentimentality was the impetus that moved my mother to preserve the specimens, forward-looking parents of this generation have more valid and practical reasons to give attention and value to the umbilical cord of their newborns. The reason is cord blood — a rich source of stem cells, or cells that have potential to grow into other types of cells.
Why store the stem cells from cord blood? In the exciting fields of cellular therapy and regenerative medicine, cord blood stem cells are now the preferred source over bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cells. Basically, stem cells are used to help the body repair itself. They have been found to be mainly responsible for replenishing blood and immune system cells, but they also have the unique ability to multiply and develop into other cell types. Through scientific technology that allows stem cell processing and long-term cryogenic storage of cord blood, Filipino parents now have the option of storing their baby’s cord blood as a safeguard against future unforeseen diseases that can afflict their child.
Since the first transplant was done in 1988, cord blood has become a major source of stem cells for transplantation worldwide. Apart from blood disorders, cord blood stem cells are used to treat over 80 diseases, including certain cancers and bone marrow failure syndromes, inborn errors of metabolism and immunodeficiencies. Active research is ongoing for stem cell treatment applications for cerebral palsy, juvenile diabetes type 1, stroke, heart disease, brain injury, liver disease, cartilage regeneration, eye disorders, spinal cord injuries, auto-immune disorders, and others.
Research outcomes are promising. For example, Fox News in the United States reported in July 28, 2008 that cord blood stem cells reversed the cerebral palsy of Chloe Levine who received treatment from Dr. Krutzberg at Duke University. A study published in an issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association concluded that people with type 1 diabetes who received stem cell transplants using their own stem cells (autologous transplant) were able to go as long as four years without needing insulin treatments.
The stem cells can alternatively be used by the baby’s family members because the chance of a match with siblings is up to 75 percent and up to 50 percent with parents. And thus, there is a growing need for a dependable, stable, and trustworthy cord blood banking facility.
At the recent launch of Cordlife, the Philippines’ first cord blood processing and cryopreservation facility, Steven Fang, group chief executive officer, says, “There is a clear, unmet medical need for an internationally accredited and responsible cord blood bank in most modern economies given the high prevalence of cancers and blood-related disorders. Lymphoma and leukemia, the top two childhood cancers in the Philippines, and also this country’s top 10 most common adult cancers, are treatable with stem cells.”
An additional advantage of using stem cells from cord blood is that it eliminates the painful and invasive process of harvesting stem cells from the bone marrow. Moreover, chemotherapy can destroy both cancer cells and healthy cells, thereby rendering stem cells from the bone marrow land peripheral blood less effective.
Steven Fang continues, “We believe that with sufficient clinical evidence of successful therapies, more medical options may be available to families who have stored their children’s cord blood.”
Cordlife utilizes a state-of-the-art fully automated cell processing system called Sepax, which offers a sterile and precise approach to cell separation. There is a recovery rate of up to 96 percent and Cordlife’s cryogenic facility in the Philippines can hold up to 20,000 cord blood units.
How is cord blood collected? Wherever you decide to give birth in the Philippines, all you have to do is to coordinate with Cordlife and your obstetrician who will do the collection after your baby’s birth. It is a quick and painless procedure with no safety issues for mother and child. The cord blood is thereafter transported to Cordlife’s laboratory for processing and the stem cells then undergo controlled freezing. These are stored at -196 degrees Celsius in a tank containing liquid nitrogen until required.
There is only one chance to harvest your child’s cord blood and store the stem cells — right after birth. You might liken this to taking out additional insurance to ensure the future well-being of your offspring. And where it pertains to the health of your child, it is best to cover all bases.
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Cordlife Medical Philippines Inc is at Unit 101 Building H, Ayala Land Technohub, Commonwealth Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City, 1101 Philippines. For information and inquiries, log on to info@ph.cordlife.com or www.cordlife.com. Or call 710-9195.
