The following list references some recommended reading material that is based on the subject of stem cell procedures and applications.

Untying the Gordian knot: policies, practices, and ethical issues related to banking of umbilical cord blood
Kurtzberg J and Lyerly AD
J Clin Invest. 2005;115:2592–7

This paper from 2005 contains information concerning both public and private cord blood banking. It compares the advantages and disadvantages that are related to each type of bank, and reviews the development of cord blood banks in different countries since the first one was established in 1991. It also discusses the use of cord blood stem cells in contemporary medicine, and mentions the possible future uses in regenerative medicine.

History of the clinical use of umbilical cord blood haematopoietic cells
Gluckman E and Rocha V
Cytotherapy. 2005;7:219–27

This is a paper from 2005 that reviews the current use of umbilical cord blood stem cells for the treatment of blood disorders such as leukaemia. It discusses how cord blood stem cell transplants work and what happens to patients that receive them, the paper also reviews the history of cord blood transplants from the first one in 1988.

Unrelated cord blood transplants in adults with haematological malignancies
Rocha V, et al.
Haematologica. 2006;91:223–30

This paper from 2006 discusses what happened to recipients of cord blood stem cell transplants, and discusses the different ways in which umbilical cord blood can be used. The article concludes by stating that cord blood stem cells are a “clear alternative” for adults that cannot find a matched donor, meaning that for people who are unable to find an exact match for their tissue type, cord blood may prove another option for treatment.

Umbilical-cord blood transplantation for the treatment of cancer
Barker JN and Wagner JE
Nat Rev Cancer 2003;3:526-32

This review focuses on Research and clinical studies that identify umbilical-cord blood as an alternative source of haematopoietic stem cells for both juvenile and adult cancer patients. These studies have identified several advantages to umbilical cord stem cells transplantation, including rapid availability and a lower incidence of GVHD. To improve the efficacy of cord blood transplantation in adults, a number of approaches are described e.g. multiple-unit transplantation and reduced intensity of chemo-radiation therapy.

Biology of cord blood cells and future prospects for enhanced clinical benefit
HE Broxmeyer
Cytotherapy 2005;7, 209-218

This review describes the underlying biology, and the efforts made to enhance the clinical use of cord blood (CB) due to the limited numbers of CB cells collected by ex vivo expansion of haematopoietic stem (HSC) and progenitor (HPC) cells. This review also highlights the presence of mesenchymal stem cells, unrestricted somatic stem cells, endothelial progenitor cells and immune cells found in cord blood.
The presence and biology of non-HSC/HPC may reveal future possibilities for the additional clinical benefits of cord blood.

Identification of stem cells from human umbilical cord blood with embryonic and haematopoietic characteristics
Zhao Y, et al.
Exp Cell Res. 2006 Aug 1;312(13):2454–64. Epub 2006 Apr 26

This study established that there are cells that are similar to embryonic stem cells present within umbilical cord blood. Some scientists believe that cord blood stem cells could be used in the same way as embryonic stem cells, thereby overcoming some of the ethical issues that are associated with ES cells.

A new human somatic stem cell from placental cord blood with intrinsic pluripotent differentiation potential
Kogler G, et al.
J Exp Med. 2004 Jul 19;200(2):123–35.

This study from 2004 found that human umbilical cord blood stem cells could be successfully expanded (increasing the number of cells) and then transplanted. The transplanted cells changed into cells that mimic bone cells, cartilage cells, blood forming (haematopoietic) cells, nerve cells, liver cells, and heart cells. This is encouraging of the development of regenerative medicine, which depends on the ability to proliferate stem cells and induce their change into specific tissue types.

Chasing a cellular fountain of youth
Wilan KH, Scott CT, and Herrera S
Nature Biotechnology 2005; 23, 807-815

This feature is focused on Biotech companies intending to use adult and foetal cells for regenerative medicine and develop products with business models to move cell-based therapies into the clinic. However, without commercial success investors are hesitant to endorse such technologies.