Cord blood is an unlimited source of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) for allogeneic HSC transplant. Since the first human cord blood transplant performed 20 years ago, cord blood banks have been established worldwide for collection and cryopreservation of cord blood for allogeneic HSC transplant. More than 500 000 cord blood units are now available for international exchange of cord blood units. A global network of cord blood banks and transplant centers has been established for a common inventory and study of clinical outcomes. Results of unrelated allogeneic cord blood transplants in malignant and nonmalignant diseases, in adults and children, show that, compared with HLA-matched unrelated bone marrow transplant, cord blood has several advantages including prompt availability of the transplant, decrease of graft versus host disease and better long-term immune recovery resulting in a similar long-term survival. Several studies have shown that the number of cells is the most important factor for engraftment while some degree of HLA mismatches is acceptable. Progresses in this field are expected to facilitate engraftment including ex vivo expansion of stem cells, intra-bone injection of cord blood cells and double cord blood transplants.

脐带血是用于异基因 HSC 移植的造血干细胞 (HSC) 的无限来源。自 20 年前进行第一次人类脐带血移植以来，全世界已经建立了脐带血库，用于收集和冷冻保存脐带血以用于异基因 HSC 移植。现在有超过 500 000 个脐带血单位可用于脐带血单位的国际交换。已经建立了一个全球脐带血库和移植中心网络，用于共同库存和临床结果研究。在成人和儿童的恶性和非恶性疾病中进行无关同种异体脐带血移植的结果表明，与 HLA 匹配的无关骨髓移植相比，脐带血具有几个优点，包括移植的及时性、移植物抗宿主病的减少和更好的长期免疫恢复导致类似的长期存活。几项研究表明，细胞数量是植入的最重要因素，而一定程度的 HLA 错配是可以接受的。预计该领域的进展将促进植入，包括干细胞的离体扩增、脐带血细胞的骨内注射和双脐带血移植。