Umbilical cord blood, a source of blood-forming stem cells used since the late 1980s, remains an option for treating leukemia and other blood disorders. Advances such as dual-unit transplants and lab-based cell expansion are expanding its use, though engraftment is often slower than with bone marrow.
Cord blood remains a practical stem cell source for many blood and immune disorders. It's faster to obtain than many adult donors and causes less chronic GVHD, but single units may lack enough cells for adults - leading to double-unit grafts and ex vivo expansion strategies.
Umbilical cord blood offers readily available stem cells for treating leukemia and other blood disorders. Advances - double-unit transplants and cell-expansion methods - have widened use in adults while keeping benefits like easier donor matching and lower chronic GVHD risk.