Don't Cut the Cord: Why Umbilical Cord Blood Still Deserves a Place in Transplantation

T-cells capable of rapid differentiation and tumour-directed cytotoxicity without sustained alloreactivity. UCB permits greater human leukocyte antigen (HLA) mismatch tolerance, especially when transplant is performed T-cell replete and can be accessed immediately, reducing time to transplant for high-risk leukaemia. In addition, recent advances in ex vivo expansion technologies have overcome historical limitations of low cell dose and delayed engraftment, expanding UCB's applicability to older paediatric and adult recipients. This review discusses the evidence of using UCB as a preferred stem cell source in patients with relapsed/refractory haematological malignancies and how we may interrogate the properties of UCB to improve outcomes in these high-risk cohorts.