[Stem cell transplantation of umbilical chord blood from related and non-related donors in children and adults--a review of stem cell transplantation from umbilical cord blood].

Umbilical cord blood is being increasingly used as an alternative stem cell source in the treatment of children and adults with malignant and non-malignant diseases. Data regarding the outcome of children show promise. Furthermore, transplantation of cord blood from an unrelated donor should be considered as an acceptable alternative for adults in the absence of an HLA-matched bone marrow donor. In the past 10 years cord blood banking has become a world-wide reality. However, problems in cord blood banking are caused by the controversial and conflicting interests of public and private cord blood banks. The financial gains of certain private banks hinders the growth of stored units for public use and makes it difficult to find full matches for some patients, especially those groups with a high diversity of HLA types. Future trends should implement an increased capacity for multilineage differentiation of cord blood stem cells. Pluripotentiality might lead to therapeutic applications in regenerative medicine.