Allogeneic transplantation

Umbilical cord-derived haemopoietic stem cells (UCDSCs) were first shown to be capable of supporting sustained engraftment approximately 30 years ago, but their role as a transplant source has been slow to develop. Recent work, however, suggests an increasing future use of UCDSCs in both children and adults. The transplantation of UCDSCs is feasible, and concerns around cell dose and poor engraftment have been partly addressed with the use of double-cord donation.