Cord blood collected and stored by one of Corcell's private, family customers was used in what is believed to be the first autologous cord blood transplant for childhood leukemia anywhere in the world.

[Autologous cord blood is that collected from a baby's umbilical cord and for use specifically for that child.]

As stated by Jack Goldberg, MD, CorCell Medical Director and Chief of Hematology Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania Health System, PennPresbyterian:

"This is the first time we have evidence that umbilical cord blood (UCB) can be used in an autologous transplant to treat childhood leukaemia.

This is critical because it removes the misconception existing in the medical profession that the collection of cord blood for autologous transplantation in the treatment of childhood leukemia was not possible. Importantly, we now know this is not the case."

This first known worldwide reported case has been reported January 3, 2007 in the journal Pediatrics, the Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics:

"..a 3-year-old girl with leukemia was transplanted with her own stored umbilical cord blood after developing isolated central nervous system relapse. This occurred 10-months after diagnosis while she was receiving chemotherapy.

Find more details from the press release.

Corcell is a company of Cord Blood America, Inc.