FAQ

What are stem cells?

MAIN CATEGORIES OF STEM CELLS:

HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELLS:

Main sources are:

umbilical cord blood,
adult peripheral (venous) blood and
bone marrow.

MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS:

Main sources are:

Wharton’s jelly of umbilical cord
the pulp of the new teeth and
bone marrow

Why should I store stem cells?

To make a gift of life to myself and my family, at a low cost, as it lasts at least 20 years.
To create a stock of healthy cells, both for myself and for my histocompatible family members.
To guaranty a hope of possible supportive medication in the future, if ever needed.
To store cells that are 100% histocompatible with me.
To store cells that are highly histocompatible with my family members.
To ensure a reduced chance of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) even if the cells are administered to a non-completely histocompatible donor.
To provide for short-term and medium-term new therapeutic applications.
I not the opportunity to offer life to myself and my family unexploited.

Diseases treated with the use of stem cells

Since 1988, umbilical cord blood has been used to treat serious diseases. However, stem cell research is such that the number of diseases and injuries that can be treated with their use is constantly increasing.

Current therapeutic applications of stem cells

Leukemias, lymphomas and other hematopoietic malignancies

Acute diphenotypic leukemia
Acute lymphocytic leukemia
Acute marrow leukemia
Acute undifferentiated leukemia
T leukemia/addult lymphoma
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Chronic myelogenous leukemia
Hodgkin lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Juvenile chronic myelogenous leukemia
Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia
Multiple myeloma
Acute NK cell leukemia
Pellocytic leukemia
Waldenström macroglobulinemia

Other malignancies

Brain tumors
Ewing Sarcoma
Neuroblastoma
Ovarian cancer
Kidney cancer
Rhabdomyosarcoma
Microcellular carcinoma of the lung
Testicular cancer
Thymoma
Bone marrow disturbances
Hemoglobinopathies
Histiocytic disorders
Myelodysplastic / Myeloproliferative disorders
Metabolic dissorders
Immunological dissorders

Clinical applications of stem cells under research

Brain lesions
Central paralysis
Diabetes melitus type 1
Cardiopathies

Source: Umbilical Cord Blood Donor Foundation,
USA, www.cordblooddonor.org