[Cord blood stem cell transplantation and cord blood bank].

Human cord blood provides a rich source of hematopoietic stem cells. On the basis of the finding, umbilical cord blood has been postulated to be an alternative and efficacious source of hematopoietic stem cells for allogeneic reconstitution. Early results of cord blood stem cell transplantation (CBSCT) show that the incidence and severity of graft versus host disease has been low in HLA mismatched transplants. Cord blood banking has several advantages such as lack of donor risk, indefinite storage, speed of donor search, viral safety. More than four hundred cases of unrelated CBSCT have been performed in the world. Kanagawa cord blood bank has been established on 1995 and other some private cord blood banks have been established in Japan. Eleven cases of unrelated CBSCT have been reported in Japan. Large scaled public cord blood bank should be established in near future.