CORDLIFE Philippines: One Chance, One Choice. The Cordlife team, Led by Brand Manager, Ms. Jonelyn De Belen along with medical and brand experts were able elucidate the participants on the benefits of banking Cord blood. There is only one opportunity to collect and store the stem cells found in the cord blood and this is only during birth.
Stem cells are at the forefront of one of the most fascinating and revolutionary areas of medicine today. Doctors recognize that stem cells have the potential to help treat numerous diseases by generating healthy new cells and tissue. A wide range of diseases is treatable with stem cells such as acute and chronic forms of leukemia and myeloproliferative disorders to name a few.
Cordlife alone offers expert cord blood banking services and as a group, has released a total of 35 cord blood units to date.
Benefits of Banking
What are cord blood stem cells?
Cord blood, also called “placental blood”, is blood that remains in the umbilical cord and placenta following the birth of a baby and after the umbilical cord is cut. During pregnancy, the umbilical cord functions as a lifeline between mother and child. After a baby’s delivery, the cord blood present in the umbilical cord could offer hope for the child or members of the family.
Cord blood is a rich source of haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which are primarily responsible for replenishing blood and regenerating the immune system. They have the unique ability to differentiate into various cell types found in blood as depicted in the diagram below:
Blood and Immune Cells
Why we have to Save Cord Blood
Here’s the Top 10 reasons why you should consider banking cord blood
- 1 in 200 individuals1 may need a hematopoeitic stem cell (HSCs) transplant by the age of 70.
- 60% higher chance2 of match versus bone marrow in a family.
- Research showed that patients have a lower chance of complications in transplants when they receive stem cells from a relative3.
- Some of the most common cancers, such as leukaemia and lymphoma, are treatable with stem cell transplant. In the Philippines, leukaemia is one of the top 10 cancers for both men and women; and for men, lymphoma is also in the top 104. Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) is the most common type of leukaemia in children, with 79% of childhood ALL occurring between the ages 1-9 years4.
- A guaranteed match for autologous transplants (where the donor and recipient are the same individual).
- A readily available supply of stored hematopoeitic stem cells. This compares well to having to do a national or international search which is costly and time-consuming in an already time critical situation.
- Lower risk of Graft vs. Host Disease (GvHD) for allogeneic transplants, a situation where the transplanted tissue attacks the patient’s own tissue.
- Umbilical cord blood stem cells are younger, have a higher rate of engraftment and are more tolerant to tissue mismatches, compared to other types of stem cells, e.g. bone marrow.
- Ease of collection, which is pain-free and risk-free to both mother and child.
- It is once-in-a-lifetime chance to collect cord blood – a readily available source when needed in the future.
What Can Cord Blood Do
- Replace and regenerate damaged or diseased bone marrow
- Treatment for blood cancers
- Correct genetic defects (sibling/allogeneic transplantation)
- Potential for cellular therapy and regenerative medicine
Diseases can be Treated with Stem Cells and its Potential Applications
Diseases Treated with Stem Cells
Stem cells are at the forefront of one of the most fascinating and revolutionary areas of medicine today. Doctors recognize that stem cells have the potential to help treat numerous diseases by generating healthy new cells and tissue.
As a parent, you want to protect your family. At your baby’s birth, you have the unique opportunity to safeguard the health of the ones you love by storing your newborn child’s cord blood stem cells.
Stem cells in the blood of your baby’s umbilical cord have the potential to be used in the treatment of many diseases today. Stem cells could be used to treat haematopoietic and genetic disorders. In a cord blood transplant, stem cells are infused into a patient’s bloodstream where they go to work – healing and repairing damaged cells and tissue. With the successful engraftment of the stem cells, the patient’s blood and immune system are regenerated.
There are a wide range of diseases that are treatable with stem cells derived from cord blood and other sources of similar type of stem cells (Haematopoietic Stem Cell), like bone marrow and peripheral blood, including stem cell disorders, acute and chronic forms of leukemia, myeloproliferative disorders, and many more.
In addition to the host of conditions that can now be treated, it is the potential of stem cell treatments that holds the most excitement as research continues to uncover new possibilities. The potential and efficacy of treating diseases with stem cells are real.
Diseases Treated with Stem Cells
The following is a list of some of the diseases that have been treated with cord blood and other sources of similar type of stem cells (Haematopoietic Stem Cell), like bone marrow and peripheral blood. Stem cell therapies continue to change and evolve quickly.
BLOOD CANCERS
Acute Myelogenous Leukaemia
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia
Chronic Myelogenous Leukaemia
Histiocytic Neoplasms
Other Myeloproliferative Neoplasms
Myelodysplastic syndrome
Multiple Myeloma
Plasma Cell Leukaemia
Systemic Mastocytosis
Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia
SOLID TUMORS
Hodgkin Lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Langerhans’ Cell Histiocytosis
Neuroblastoma
Retinoblastoma
NON-MALIGNANT BLOOD DISORDERS
Aplastic Anaemia
Chediak-Higashi Syndrome
Congenital Dyserythropoietic Anaemia
Diamond-Blackfan Syndrome
DiGeorge Syndrome
Evans Syndrome
Fanconi’s Anaemia
Glanzmann’sThrombasthenia
Gunther’s Disease (erythropoietic porphyria)
Hereditary BM failure syndromes
Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis
Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency
Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria
Pure Red Cell Aplasia
Sickle Cell Anaemia
Thalassemia Major
IMMUNODEFICIENCY DISORDERS
Chronic Granulomatous Disease
Common Variable Immunodeficiency
Cartilage-Hair Hypoplasia
Reticular Dysgenesis
Severe Combined Immune Deficiency (SCID)
Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome
Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome
METABOLIC DISORDERS
Adrenoleukodystrophy
Gaucher’s Disease
Hurler Syndrome
Hunter’s Syndrome
Krabbe Disease
Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome
Maroteaux-Lamy Syndrome
Metachromatic leukodystrophy
Osteopetrosis
Sly Syndrome, Beta-Glucuronidase Deficiency
Wolman Disease
The successful application of cord blood stem cells is dependent on the condition of each individual patient. Banking cord blood does not guarantee that the cells will provide a cure or be applicable in every situation. The eventual use of the cord blood can only be determined by the treating physician. Though some of the conditions listed here may be treated with the patient’s own cord blood (autologous cord blood), it may not be suitable to treat genetic diseases. In such cases, a matching cord blood from a sibling may be used. However, there is no guarantee that the cord blood will be a match for every family member or will provide a cure for every condition. Please consult your treating physician for further advice.
Clinical Trials
With the advancement of stem cell* research, the potential for future use of stem cell grows.
Below is a list of diseases currently under Clinical Trials. These are diseases for which stem cell* treatments appear to be beneficial, but have not been adopted as standard therapy. For some of these diseases, stem cell transplants only slow the progression of the disease, but do not produce a cure. For other diseases, stem cell treatments may help effect a cure, but further research is needed to determine the best candidate patients for stem cell therapy, the optimum stem cell dosage, the optimum method of cell delivery, etc.
For some patients, clinical research trials represent an avenue for receiving promising new therapies that would not otherwise be available. Patients with difficult to treat or currently “incurable” diseases, such as AIDS or certain types of cancer, may want to pursue participation in clinical research trials if standard therapies are not effective. Clinical research trials are sometimes lifesaving.
For the latest information, please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov
Autism
Brain Tumor
Cartilage Repair
Cleft Palate Repair (Alveolar)
Cerebral palsy
Crohn’s disease
Critical Limb Ischemia
Diabetes Type 1
Epidermolysis Bullosa
Ewing Sarcoma
Graft-versus-Host Disease (GvHD)
Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)
Hearing Loss
HIV
Ischemic Stroke
Lupus
Multiple Sclerosis
Myocardial Infarction
Ovarian Cancer
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Spinal cord injury
Scleroderma
Testicular Tumour
Experimental Treatments
These are randomised controlled trials conducted in a scientific laboratory involving in-vitro (test tube or cell culture) and in-vivo (animal) work.
The experimental trials are in place to assist and to decide whether they have scientific merit for further development / progression to clinical trials.
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- Congenital hydrocephalus
- Huntington’s Disease
- Liver cirrhosis
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Traumatic Brain Injury
Reference:
- Cord Blood Registry Website 3 August 2011
- Parent’s Guide to Cord Blood Foundation 20 March 2014
- National Marrow Donor Program 3 August 2011
- Clinical Trials 3 August 2011
- MedicineNet, 2012. Definition of Clinical Trials, 1 February 2014
The above list of diseases is a compilation from the above websites and other sources such as medical literatures and journals. Kindly approach us at (02) 470-1735 or [email protected] to request for a particular medical journal / literature.
*Stem cells mentioned here comprises of other cell lines such as Mesenchymal stem cells & etc. The clinical trials and experimental treatments listed above may be using other lines of stem cells, and not only Haematopoietic stem cells.
How is Cord Blood collected by your OBGYN
Its very Safe, Quick, and Painless Collection
Safe and painless for you and your baby
Whether you have a natural birth or a C-section, the process of collecting your newborn baby’s stem cells is safe, painless and non-disruptive to your birth plan.
After your baby is born, the umbilical cord is clamped and cut by your OBGYN (obstetrician / gynaecologist). That is when a needle is inserted into the umbilical cord to collect the remaining blood which would otherwise be discarded as medical waste.
Our collection bags – AABB approved and heparin-free – are sterile for both C-section and vaginal births and are simple for your doctor to use. If you also decide to collect the umbilical cord lining, the umbilical cord is cleaned, a segment is placed into the provided collection jar, and it is sent back to our lab with the cord blood bag.
Once collection is done, your OBGYN or midwife will seal the bag, attach the pre-printed labels with your information and place it in the Cordlife collection kit.
Please note that the final decision of whether the cord blood collection should take place will always reside with your caregiver whose first priority is the safety of you and your baby.
From your Delivery Room, to our Lab
After you have notified us of your delivery and reviewed the kit’s contents and pre-printed labels, a medical courier will pick up the collection kit from your hospital room and deliver it to the Cordlife processing and storage laboratory. We will notify you as soon as your kit arrives at our laboratory.
How is Cord Blood Processed and Stored
Stem cell isolation is a critical step in cord blood banking. It affects the number of stem cells that can be harvested or recovered from the cord blood. Cell recovery rates are critical because a higher number of stem cells could enhance the success of the transplant or treatment. That’s why Cordlife has invested in the Sepax®2 automated stem cell processing technology, a safe, sterile and fully automated cord blood processing technology – so you get more stem cells for maximum transplant success^.
The first and only private cord blood bank in the Philippines that offers the Sepax®2 automated processing technology, this Swiss-made and U.S. FDA-cleared device can recover as high as 99.46%1 of Total Nucleated Cells (TNC) from cord blood; up to 57%2 cell count higher than other processing methods. It is also a functionally closed processing system which ensures the sterility of the cord blood by eliminating exposure to air contaminants.
References
- Cordlife umbilical cord blood processing data as at 30 April 2013
- Valeri et al., Transfusion 1996; 36: 303-8.
Storing your baby’s Cord Blood
Cordlife uses the U.S. FDA approved cryogenic storage pouch. This multi-compartmentalised cryobag has 20% and 80% compartments. This cryobag also has 2 integrally attached segments which are in compliance with AABB and FACT-Netcord standards. This dual compartment addresses the stem cell expansion programmes in future. That means that when this stem cell expansion technology is commercially viable, you can withdraw 80% of the stem cells for immediate use /treatment while continuing to store the 20% balance for later expansion.
The integral segments also provide the safety and assurance that additional product testing is performed on the associated unit thereby eliminating testing and cord blood unit mix ups. This is to allow for additional testing of the sample should it be required in the future, or for viability testing prior to a transplant. This storage pouch is made of a special material designed specifically to withstand cryogenic temperatures.
Image 1 – Cordlife’s FDA approved dual compartmental storage pouch
with integrated segments (before detachment)
Your baby’s cord blood is stored in vacuum insulated cryogenic storage tanks, and are designed to remain at optimal cryogenic temperature of below -150°C for cell storage over long periods.
Cordlife uses MVE Anti-contamination Vapour-phase Liquid Nitrogen Storage System for long-term stem cell cryopreservation.
Vapour-phase storage is preferred over liquid-phase storage as it eliminates the chance of cross contamination between cord blood units as compared with those stored in liquid nitrogen.
The MVE Anti-contamination Vapour-phase Liquid Nitrogen Storage System operates perfectly, even without electrical supply, and is 100% reliable and failsafe with no chance of robotic malfunction. Unlike other storage systems available in the market today, our tanks have never been recalled by the U.S. FDA or the manufacturer.
Over 99% of private cord blood banks also use only vapour-phase freezers. Presently, the majority of stem cell transplantations used cord blood units stored in vapour freezers.
The Future of Stem Cells
Future application of cord blood stem cells
The list of stem cell treatable diseases continues to grow at a rapid pace. With the potential to become different cell types, scientists are exploring the possibility of using cord blood stem cells to treat some of the most common life-threatening diseases such as heard diseases and stroke. Thus saving your baby’s cord blood now can ensure your child’s access to his/her own stem cells for such cellular therapy in the future.
Current most commonly researched treatments:
Part of ongoing clinical trials in the U.S
Malignant Diseases:
- Griscelli Syndrome
- Hodgkin’s Disease
- Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis
- Hurler Disease
- Hurler-Scheie Disease
- Hypoplastic Leukemia
- I-cell Disease
- Infantile Ceroid Lipofucoscinosis
- Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
- Juvenile Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
- Juvenile Mono-Myelocytic Leukemia
Non-malignant diseases:
- Congenital Cytopenia
- Polycythemia Vera
- Gaucher’s Disease
- Sandhoff Disease
- SCID with Adenosine Deaminase Deficiency
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Type 1 Diabetes
- Cerebral palsy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You can Follow and Like CordLife Philippines Social Media Accounts
Cordlife Philippines Official Facebook Page
Cordlife Philippines Official Twitter Page
Cordlife Philippines Official Instagram Page
Want to know more About CordLife Philippines and Cord Banking
Here’s Cord Life Philippines WEBSITE
For more information about CordLife PH, Just EMAIL them
Contact Info
Customer Service Landline
(02) 470 1735
(02) 332 1888
Customer Service Mobile
+63 998 848 6063
+63 998 848 6064
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
By the way I’ m one of lucky mom blogger recieve an Invitaion and get Sample of a few of her products at the Galactic Mission 7 / Bloggers Event and Family Summer Party last Saturday May 29, 2016 at Prestige Tower Ortigas Center Pasig City and Hosted by Pretty Mommy Blogger Marylaine Viernes / Her Official Facebook Page Marylaine Viernes, Events Host & Writer
and I’ m Happy to Recieve this Full and Powerful Information about Cord Life Banking
Thank You CordLife Philippines
