Immunotherapeutic approaches to enhance the outcomes of CBT. The application of expansion techniques for CB-MNCs that operate by blocking in vitro differentiation of early progenitor cells could enhance engraftment potential. A fraction of cultured MSCs or Treg cells could then be used to prevent or treat GVHD. The generation of CAR-T/NK cells and expansion of T cells from fractions of CB could be applied to control relapsed patients after CBT.

Abbreviations: CAR, chimeric antigen receptors; CBT, cord blood transplantation; GVHD, graft versus host disease; MNC, mononuclear cells; MSC, mesenchymal stem cell; NK, natural killer; Treg, regulatory T cell.