Potential
Technology to heal
Therapeutic Potential
Stem cells have revolutionized therapeutic possibilities, offering regenerative cures for conditions previously deemed untreatable. Diseases such as muscular dystrophies, diabetes mellitus, stroke, and autism have shown promising results following stem cell transplantation. The historical journey of stem cell research began in the early 1900s when European researchers identified that various blood cells originate from a specific "stem cell." By 1963, Canadian researchers Ernest A. McCulloch and James E. Till provided the first quantitative descriptions of the self-renewing activities of transplanted mouse bone marrow cells. Since then, bone marrow transplants, which involve adult stem cells, have been used in patients undergoing radiation and chemotherapy since the 1950s.
The spectrum of diseases potentially treatable with stem cells includes Alzheimer's, ALS, autism, brain damage, cerebral palsy, cosmetic applications, Crohn's disease, corneal repair, diabetes, eye diseases, hair regeneration, kidney diseases, liver diseases, macular degeneration, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, myocardial infarction, muscular dystrophy, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, spinal cord injuries, stroke, skin repair, sports injuries, and wound healing.
Advantages of Storing Stem Cells
Stem cells can be cryopreserved for years using advanced cryopreservation methods. By storing them in liquid nitrogen at temperatures as low as -196°C, their cellular structure is preserved indefinitely, ready for activation when needed. The first cord blood bank was established in 1992, and since then, numerous private cord blood banks have emerged, offering families the option to store their child’s cord blood for future use.
There are two types of cord blood banks: private and public. In private cord blood banks, cord blood is preserved for the individual or their family members. Public cord blood banks, on the other hand, store cord blood for research and therapeutic purposes. Isolating and cryopreserving stem cells from umbilical cord blood ensures they remain young and potent. When needed in the future, these younger cells offer greater efficacy compared to the individual’s aged cells, with the added advantage of no risk of rejection by the body.
The Wonders of Stem Cells
Stem cells are the fundamental building blocks of the body, with the unique ability to develop into nearly any type of cell. When provided with the right environment and stimuli, each stem cell can transform into specialized tissues or organs. This extraordinary potential makes stem cells a powerful tool in regenerative medicine.
Stem cells are abundantly present in various sources, including umbilical cord blood, cord tissue, placenta, dental pulp, bone marrow, body fat, menstrual blood, and even urine. Researchers have confirmed the presence of stem cells in urine, milk teeth, and menstrual blood, though these cells differ in their ability to differentiate into specific tissue types. For instance, hematopoietic stem cells from bone marrow generate red blood cells, platelets, and white blood cells, while dental stem cells can form cartilage-producing cells and nerve cells. Menstrual blood stem cells can differentiate into cardiac cells and endothelial cells, among others.
Diseases Treatable with Stem Cell Therapies
Stem cell therapies have shown great promise in curing diseases, alleviating suffering, and saving lives. As research and clinical studies progress, the scope of treatable conditions continues to expand.
ICMR-Approved Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) Therapies
Adults (≥ 18 years of age):
Leukemias
- Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
- Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APML)
- Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)
- Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)
Lymphomas
- Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL)
- Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma
- Follicular Lymphoma
- Mantle Cell Lymphoma
- T-cell Lymphomas
- Burkitt’s Lymphoma
- Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma
- Plasmablastic Lymphoma
Myeloproliferative and Plasma Cell Disorders
- Myelofibrosis
- Myeloma
- Plasma Cell Leukemia
- Plasma Cell Disorders
Solid Tumors
- Germ Cell Tumor (relapse and refractory)
- Ewing’s Sarcoma (high risk)
Non-Malignant Diseases
- Severe Aplastic Anemia (new diagnosis and relapse/refractory)
- Fanconi’s Anemia (FA)
- Dyskeratosis Congenita
- Sickle Cell Disease (SCD)
- Hemophagocytic Syndromes (refractory)
- Mast Cell Diseases
- Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID)
- Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome (WAS)
- Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD)
Pediatric (≤ 18 years of age):
Leukemias and Lymphomas
o Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
o Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)
o Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)
o T-cell Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (T-NHL)
o Lymphoblastic B-cell Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (non-Burkitt)
o Burkitt’s Lymphoma
o Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
o Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma
Solid Tumors
- Germ Cell Tumor (relapse and refractory)
- Ewing’s Sarcoma (high risk or relapse)
- Neuroblastoma (high risk or relapse)
- Wilm’sTumor (relapse)
- Osteosarcoma (high risk)
- Medulloblastoma (high risk)
- Other Malignant Brain Tumors
Non-Malignant Diseases
- Severe Aplastic Anemia (new diagnosis and relapse/refractory)
- Fanconi’s Anemia (FA)
- Dyskeratosis Congenita
- Blackfan-Diamond Anemia
- Sickle Cell Disease (SCD)
- Thalassemia Major
- Congenital Amegakaryocytic Thrombocytopenia
- Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID)
- T Cell Immunodeficiency (SCID variants)
- Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome (WAS)
- Hemophagocytic Disorders
- Lymphoproliferative Disorders
- Severe Congenital Neutropenia
- Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD)
- Other Phagocytic Cell Disorders
- Immune Dysregulation Polyendocrinopathy Enteropathy, X-linked (IPEX) Syndrome
- Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA)
- Systemic Sclerosis (SS)
- Other Autoimmune and Immune Dysregulation Disorders
- Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS-I and MPS-VI)
- Other Metabolic Diseases
- Osteopetrosis
- Globoid Cell Leukodystrophy (Krabbe)
- Metachromatic Leukodystrophy
- Cerebral X-linked Adrenoleukodystrophy
Reference Majhail NS, Farnia SH, Carpenter PA, Champlin RE, Crawford S, Marks DI, Omel JL, Orchard PJ, Palmer J, Saber W, Savani BN, Veys PA, Bredeson CN, Giralt SA, LeMaistre CF; American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Indications for Autologous and Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: Guidelines from the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2015 Nov;21(11):1863-9.