Fred Hutch Study Reveals 96% Survival Rate Using Innovative Pooled Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplant

New research from Fred Hutch uses pooled umbilical cord blood to achieve a 96% survival rate in blood cancer patients while eliminating severe GVHD risks.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 28, 2026, 5:53 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center

A Breakthrough in Hematologic Oncology Survival Rates

A significant advancement in treating aggressive blood diseases has emerged from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, where researchers successfully utilized a revolutionary umbilical cord blood transplant technique. The phase 2 clinical trial focused on 28 patients suffering from high-risk leukemias and myelodysplastic syndrome, achieving a remarkable 96% survival rate at the one-year mark. According to Dr. Filippo Milano, the study’s principal investigator and director of the Cord Blood Program at Fred Hutch, this success marks a pivotal shift in transplant medicine. The trial involved 27 out of 28 participants surviving at least 12 months, with many now approaching the two-year milestone, suggesting that the integration of pooled stem cell products can fundamentally stabilize patients during the most critical phases of recovery.

The Hybrid Approach to Stem Cell Infusion

The procedure addresses a long-standing barrier in transplant medicine where the limited volume of a single cord blood unit often fails to provide enough cells for an adult patient. To solve this, the medical team combined a standard cord blood unit with a specialized product known as dilanubicel, which aggregates stem cells from multiple donors. This method effectively allowed patients to receive cellular material from nine different human beings simultaneously, a first in the history of transplant science. Dr. Colleen Delaney, the study's senior author who pioneered the research at Fred Hutch before moving to Seattle Children’s Hospital, developed the dilanubicel product to ensure that patients are not denied treatment simply due to a lack of a perfectly matched or sufficiently large donor unit.

Bridging the Critical Gap in Immune Recovery

One of the most dangerous periods for a transplant recipient is the immediate aftermath of the procedure when the body is devoid of a functional immune system. The pooled stem cell product serves as a temporary biological bridge, providing rapid, early immune support while the primary donor unit begins its slower process of permanent engraftment. Clinical observations confirmed that within just one week of the transplant, patients showed consistent blood count recovery driven by the multi-donor product. Although these pooled cells do not stay in the patient’s system indefinitely, their transient...