Recent advances in paediatric oncology: umbilical cord blood transplantation

Umbilical cord blood (UCB) transplantation is a relatively new procedure in paediatric oncology within the UK. This article aims to identify the potential benefits and uses of cord blood transplantation. It also highlights some of the concerns and problems regarding UCB banking along with ethical issues that arise. Nurses need to be aware of this recent advance in the paediatric haematology/oncology setting. There is a possibility that the transfusion of UCB will be used in treating adults with haematological malignancies. Nurses should be familiar with the clinical applications of the procedure, nursing care of the child and family, and ethical issues that are specific to UCB transplantation. The future implications for the use of UCB are also discussed.