Umbilical Cord Stem Cells and Cancer

Umbilical cord blood has been used since 1988 for treating primarily malignant diseases. The hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells from cord blood restore blood, bone marrow and immune function after radiation or chemotherapy. In addition, stem cells themselves may fight against cancers. Neural stem cells have been found to release cytokines and growth factors that inhibit the proliferation of glioma cells by 28-87%. Also, stem/progenitor cells from human umbilical cord blood have been found to prolong the life of mouse models for prostate cancer.

Recently, Dr. Steenblock designed a cord stem cell that is transfected with genes that generate cancer fighting cytokines. The stem cells essentially become factories that churn out anti-tumor factors. These cord stem cells have been successful in fighting prostate cancer in laboratory animals. Prostate cancer is the second leading cancer-related cause of death in American men. Clinics in Mexico are now using these cells for terminal cancer patients and seeing positive results such as significant reductions in pain, increases in appetite, tumor shrinkage and an improved quality of life. These cells also seem to work well against leukemia and other types of cancers . Those wishing to donate to research studies with these cancer-fighting stem cells are invited to click here.   Click here to see the research on Stem Cells and Cancer.