Cord blood banking for potential future transplantation: Subject review

In recent years, umbilical cord blood, which contains a large number of hem atopoietic stem cells, has been used successfully for allogeneic transplant ation to treat a variety of pediatric genetic, hematologic, and oncologic d isorders. It is a potential alternative when autologous or allogeneic trans plantation with HLA-matched marrow is unavailable for children. This advanc e has resulted in the establishment of not-for-profit and for-profit cord b lood banking programs for autologous and allogeneic transplantation. Many i ssues confront institutions that wish to establish such a program. Parents also seek information from their physicians about this new modality. This d ocument is intended to provide information to guide physicians in respondin g to parents' questions about cord blood banking. The document also makes r ecommendations about appropriate ethical and operational standards, includi ng informed consent policies, for the institutions that operate a program.