RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Cord blood stem cells
JF Saudi Medical Journal
JO Saudi Med J
FD Prince Sultan Military Medical City
SP 175
OP 183
VO 30
IS 2
A1 Rajab, Khalil E.
A1 Sequeira, Reginald P.
YR 2009
UL http://smj.org.sa/content/30/2/175.abstract
AB The discovery that stem cells (SCs) can be obtained from umbilical cord blood instead of the more controversial source of embryonic SC's, has renewed interest on the new, exciting therapeutic potentials of this technology. Several therapeutic targets have been cited as candidates for treatment such as, malignant blood disease, hematological disorders, complex neurological illnesses, genetic and autoimmune diseases, benign and malignant blood diseases, skeletal anomalies, and the ultimate promise of using this technique in delaying the process of human aging. Parallel to this rise in popularity of SC research, SC banking has become a growing commercial enterprise. This review will attempt to present a concise account on the present status of the uses of SC in general, and cord blood (CB) in particular. An evaluation of the debate on the claims, and counter-claims in commercializing CB banking has been summarized.