Intra-bone Marrow Transplant (IBMT) of Cord Blood (CB) Cells: A Transplant Approach that Tries to Optimize Seeding Efficiency and Trafficking of Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs)

Only 30 % of patients have a matched sibling donor. For the remaining patients, who are candidates to receive hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), a matched unrelated transplant (MUD) is available in about 40–60 % of the Caucasian subjects, and for those without a match donor, a mismatched related donor (haploidentical) or umbilical cord blood (UCB) transplant represents valid alternative options. Engraftment of UCB has been a limiting factor for success, particularly in adult patients. In this chapter, we review the scientific background and clinical results using intra-marrow injection of UCB.