"The procedure used in the Penn trial, involving four patients, began with cord blood donations that had been separated into two parts – typically an 80 percent fraction and a 20 percent fraction – prior to freezing. Then, the team thawed the smaller fraction two weeks prior to transplant, activated and grew the number of donated T cells -- which are a key driver for the process that recovers transplant patients' immune system and play a role in fighting infections -- using the co-stimulatory compounds CD3 and CD28 in Penn's Clinical Cell and Vaccine Production Facility. Following a chemotherapy and radiation regimen to destroy patients' remaining cancer cells and the administration of immunosuppression drugs to prevent rejection of the donor cells, patients then received the thawed, larger fraction of the cord blood first (a standard, single cord blood transplant). An infusion of the newly activated and expanded T cells followed, with a portion of those cells being reserved and frozen for potential future use as immunotherapy in the event of a cancer relapse or transplant failure."
I know of 2 cord blood banks that utilize a collection bag using an 80/20 ratio when freezing after processing. This is exciting times that doctors and researchers are not only finding new ways to utilize cord blood stem cells for treatment but also ways to even enhance the ways they use cord blood stem cells being presently used. This industry is moving so rapidly and advancing that nothing surprises me. Great job and kudos to the research team!!!
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