The Challenge of GvHD
Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) is one of the most serious complications of allogeneic stem cell transplantation.
The acute, steroid-refractory form (aGvHD) is particularly dangerous, often life-threatening, and difficult to manage with conventional therapies.
Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells (hUC-MSCs)
MSCs are adult stem cells with strong immunomodulatory properties, able to regulate immune activity and reduce inflammation.
When derived from umbilical cord tissue, they offer unique advantages:
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Low immunogenicity: reduced risk of rejection.
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Young source: neonatal tissue free of age-related or disease-related alterations.
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Immediate availability: can be cryopreserved and used “off-the-shelf,” without waiting for a compatible donor.
The Clinical Trial: Encouraging Results
A multicenter phase Ib/IIa trial, published in 2025 in Stem Cell Research & Therapy, assessed the safety and efficacy of hUC-MSCs in 25 patients with steroid-refractory aGvHD.
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Treatment: intravenous infusions (6 over 3 weeks) with three different dosages.
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Safety: no severe treatment-related toxicity; only mild, transient side effects.
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Efficacy: within 28 days, 80% of patients responded positively, with complete remission in 40%.
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Survival: after one year, overall survival reached 74%.
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Benefits observed in key organs commonly affected by GvHD: skin, gastrointestinal tract, and liver.
Clinical Implications and the Value of Preservation
These findings show that umbilical cord-derived MSCs are not only safe but can also be life-saving in complex clinical settings such as GvHD.
Preserving umbilical cord blood and tissue — as offered by Swiss Stem Cells Biotech — therefore represents a strategic choice: storing them at birth means securing a unique biological resource that could one day provide access to advanced therapies, already showing tangible benefits in immunology and regenerative medicine.
Reference
Zhao Y et al. Salvage treatment of steroid-refractory acute GVHD with the off-the-shelf product of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells: a multicenter, open label, phase Ib/IIa trial.
Stem Cell Research & Therapy. 2025;16:345. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-025-04446-8
