The incredible properties of stem cells are increasingly known and recognized: they are the constituent elements of the human body, able to differentiate into any type of cell and offering the possibility of a renewable source of cells and tissue substitutes for the treatment of various diseases.
Haematopoietic stem cells are among the main resources used in the treatment of blood tumors. The normal procedure for the treatment of blood cancer involves the use of high doses of chemotherapy to attack and destroy cancer cells. This process, unfortunately, also damages the bone marrow, thus preventing the body from continuing to produce healthy blood cells and making the patient particularly vulnerable to infections and other diseases.
It is precisely here that haematopoietic stem cells come into play, which, once transplanted, restore the body’s ability to produce healthy blood cells. They also restore the patient’s immune system by helping them recover after chemotherapy.
These valuable cells can be obtained from bone marrow, peripheral blood and even from the umbilical cord. In particular, the umbilical cord is an extremely rich source of haematopoietic stem cells (contained in the blood) and mesenchymal stem cells (contained in the tissue).
While haematopoietic stem cells specialize in blood cells – red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets – mesenchymal stem cells can differentiate into many types of cells, including bone, adipose tissue, cartilage, and so on.
Among the many advantages of using umbilical cord stem cells is the youth of cells with greater tolerance to human leukocyte antigen (HLA) non-compatibility. This means that they are less likely to be rejected by the patient’s immune system after transplantation. Umbilical cord stem cells can therefore also be used when there is no complete HLA compatibility between donor and recipient.
Furthermore, umbilical cord stem cells are easy to obtain: the collection procedure takes no more than 15 minutes after childbirth. In addition, it is a totally painless process without any problem for both the mother and the baby.
Do not waste such a valuable resource; preserve the umbilical cord stem cells of your baby. Nescens Swiss Stem Cell Science offers private preservation services in Switzerland for the exclusive use of the family.
