Half Matched Stem Cells Comparable to Full Matches
Two clinical studies have recently revealed that half-matches for cord blood and bone marrow transplants are comparable to full matches. This means that a wider range of patients suffering from blood diseases could benefit from cord blood transplants.
In this study, patients at 27 medical centers across America tested the results of half-matched transplants. The one year survival rate was 62% and the one year survival rate without disease progression was 48%. According to researchers, these results were comparable to those seen with full matches.
Many patients suffering from diseases like leukemia and lymphoma have a hard time finding donors, as a full match is required in order to have a successful transplant. This new breakthrough could mean that all patients in need of transplants will be able to find the stem cells necessary to help treat their conditions.
In many cases, family members do not present full matches for patients. In these cases, the families must search through bone marrow and cord blood registries for a match; however, these searches may take weeks and even months. If half-matched stem cells become an alternative, the search for a donor could take significantly less time.