Researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle have made a significant scientific breakthrough by expanding the number of newborn stem cells from a unit of cord blood in the laboratory and then successfully using them to treat patients with leukemia.  The study, which appeared in the Jan.17th issue of Nature Medicine, is the first published report showing success using expanded cord blood stem cells in patients.

The researchers were able to achieve an average 164-fold increase of stem cells and concluded that treating patients with the expanded stem cells restored the blood and immune system more quickly that than those who received only the non-expanded stem cells.

In a Science Daily article, study author Colleen Delaney explains, "The real ground-breaking aspect of this research is that we have shown that you can manipulate stem/progenitor cells in the lab with the goal of increasing their numbers. When given to a person, these cells can rapidly give rise to white blood cells and other components of the blood system."

According to a BBC News report, scientists have been looking for ways to expand the number of cord blood stem cells in the laboratory so that there are enough cells from a single cord to meet the needs of an adult patient.
 
Click here to read the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center press release