Stem Cells and other Family Members

Explains how stem cells could be used to help treat and family members.

 

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2 Responses to “Stem Cells and other Family Members”

1. R Stemmer Says:
   February 19th, 2008 at 7:38 pm

   My daughter is expecting a baby. My other daughter is recovering from non-hodgins lymphoma (primary mediastinal b cell). I wonder if the stem cells that could be recovered from daughter no. 1 would be able to help daughter no. 2. I look forward to hearing your comments.
   Mrs. Stemmer

2. Rebecca Rutter Says:
   February 20th, 2008 at 10:14 am

   Mrs Stemmer,

   The chances of your two daughters being a perfect HLA type match are 1 in 4. Stem cells are found in umbilical cord blood, adult peripheral blood and also bone marrow. For Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma (NHL) bone marrow and cord blood stem cells are the most commonly used sources of therapeutic stem cells.

   The possibility of a match between your daughter and your grandchild are lower than 1 in 4. I would recommend that your daughter suffering with NHL discuss with her consultant whether cord blood from your grandchild is a viable treatment option for her. If it is then the NHS would be able to assist you in storing the umbilical cord blood from your grandchild for your daughter’s treatment. This person would also be able to assist in determining if your 2 daughters are a match (for bone marrow or peripheral stem cell) and again if this is a viable treatment option.

   Cord blood from your grandchild can also be stored privately in the event of the possibility of a treatment option between grandchild and daughter not being feasible.

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