Diseases Treated With Stem Cells

Leukemias and lymphomas, including:

• Acute myelogenous leukemia
• Acute lymphoblastic leukemia
• Chronic myelogenous leukemia
• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
• Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia
• Hodgkin's lymphoma
• Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Multiple myeloma and other plasma cell disorders

• Severe aplastic anemia and other marrow failure states, including:
• Severe aplastic anemia
• Fanconi anemia
• Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH)
• Pure red cell aplasia
• Amegakaryocytosis / congenital thrombocytopenia

SCID and other inherited immune system disorders, including:

• Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID, all sub-types)
• Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome

Hemoglobinopathies, including:

• Beta thalassemia major
• Sickle cell disease

Hurler's syndrome and other inherited metabolic disorders, including:

• Hurler's syndrome (MPS-IH)
• Adrenoleukodystrophy
• Metachromatic leukodystrophy

Myelodysplastic and myeloproliferative disorders, including:

• Refractory anemia (all types)
• Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia
• Agnogenic myeloid metaplasia (myelofibrosis)
• Familial erythrophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and other histiocytic disorders

Other malignancies

Childhood cancers

To learn more about childhood leukemias and other childhood cancers, visit the National Cancer Institute Web site at www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/childhoodcancers

Medical professionals have completed substantial research surrounding the usage of cord blood and the hematopoietic stem cells contained in the blood, some key milestones include:

• In March of 2008, a team of medical professionals from South Florida, were able to successfully suppress signs of Alzheimer's in a mouse by injecting the specimen with human umbilical cord blood. Visit http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/101963.php for more information.
• In March of 2008, the Scripps Research Institute established a center for regenerative medicine and hired a pioneer among embryonic stem cell research - Dr. Jean Loring. Visit http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/biotech/20080326-9999-1b26stems.html for more information.
• In November of 2007, Cryo-Cell International launches the first proprietary menstrual stem cell service called C'Elle. Visit http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/11-01-2007/0004695335&EDATE= for more information.
• In October of 2007, researchers at the University of Michigan Medical School announce that they have found a link between a progenitor stem cells and cell regeneration within stomach of a rat. Visit http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071003171925.htm for more information.
• In September of 2007, scientists at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh discovered a group of stem cells that could be used to treat muscle injuries. Visit http://www.postchronicle.com/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi?archive=30&num=101776 for more information.
• In September of 2007, the University of Minnesota began the first United States clinical trial, using T-reg cells from cord blood to fight Leukemia. Visit http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070905155443.htm for more information.
• In July of 2007, a team of American researchers announced that stem cells may be able to heal a broken heart. Visit http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn12376-stem-cells-may-mend-a-broken-heart.html for more information.
• In May of 2007, Cryo-Cell International successfully isolated a new type of stem cell called a maternal placental stem cell (MPSC), from a mother's placental tissue after childbirth. Scientists believe that this advance in stem cell research may serve as an alternative to embryonic stem cells used in the development of human cellular therapies. Visit http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/70132.php for more information.
• In October of 2006, Michael J. Fox - a note actor who has been suffering with Parkinson's disease since 1991 - appeared in an awareness campaign designed to generate support and awareness for stem cell research. Visit http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/55071.php for more information.
• In October of 2005, researchers from the University of Toronto discovered a new way to secure stem cells from umbilical cord blood. The discovery will enable researchers to create new applications for use of hematopoietic stem cells. Visit http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/10/051018072309.htm for more information.
• In March of 2004, the Journal of New England Medicine reported the discovery of an additional 17 human embryonic stem cell lines, bringing the new total to identifiable human embryonic stem cell lines from 15 to 32. Visit http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/350/13/1353 for more information.