Ancestry gap revealed: thousands of Australians face 1 in 10 chance, or less, of finding a lifesaving stem cell donor
Leukaemia Foundation and Stem Cell Donors Australia
Interview Opportunities
Bill Stavreski, Head of Research, Leukaemia Foundation /
Carmel O'Brien, Chief Scientific Officer, Stem Cell Donors Australia:
Our spokespersons can talk about the points raised in the media release, regarding the critical role stem cell transplants play in lifesaving treatment, and why more young Australians from diverse cultural backgrounds are urgently needed on the donor registry.
People with Lived Experience:
Our media team can endeavour to connect you with a local person in your area who has been diagnosed with blood cancer and received, or requires, a stem cell transplant.
Contact the Leukaemia Foundation Media Team:
[email protected] or 0473 154 079.
What if your ancestry stood in the way of you finding a lifesaving stem cell donor?
Tragically, this is the stark reality facing thousands of Australians who, if they ever require a stem cell transplant, could face significantly low odds of finding the donor match that could save their life.
On World Marrow Donor Day (22 September), the Leukaemia Foundation and Stem Cell Donors Australia are calling national attention to the critical shortage of registered stem cell donors from diverse cultural backgrounds.
A recent study revealed many Australians, from certain ancestry groups, have just a 1 in 10 chance or less of finding a full stem cell donor match within the Australian registry.
Leukaemia Foundation CEO Chris Tanti said at any given time, around 1,300 Australians from various ancestries are urgently searching for a stem cell donor as part of their lifesaving treatment, with 90 per cent of those living with blood cancer.
“Blood cancer is one of Australia’s leading cancers with more than 20,000 Australians expected to be diagnosed this year. Around a fifth of those may require a stem cell transplant, also known as a bone marrow transplant, for their best chance of survival,” Mr Tanti said.
“However, this new study shows that not all those needing a stem cell transplant have an equal chance of finding a fully matched local donor – with disparities closely connected to how a person’s ancestry is represented in Australia’s donor pool.
“With Australia’s diverse population, sadly some local patients who desperately need a donor, are forced to wait months, or more than a year, to find a suitable donor match either within Australia or through overseas registries.”
The modelling analysis, commissioned by Stem Cell Donors Australia in collaboration with the US Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR®), found stark differences in the likelihood of finding a fully matched young donor in Australasia across the below ancestry groups:
- North-West European: 39% chance of finding a 10/10 donor match
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, Māori and Pasifika: 25%
- Southern and Eastern European: 19%
- Sub-Saharan African: 18%
- People of the Americas: 10%
- North-East Asian: 9%
- South-East Asian: 9%
- Southern and Central Asian: 6%
- North African and Middle Eastern: 5%
According to Assoc. Professor Carmel O'Brien, Chief Scientific Officer at Stem Cell Donors Australia, for patients from ancestry groups that are better represented in Australia’s young donor pool, such as those with North-West European ancestry, the likelihood of finding a fully matched local donor is still only 39 per cent.
“We are seeing a clear need for more local donors from diverse cultural backgrounds to better meet the needs of Australians requiring a stem cell transplant,” Dr O’Brien said.
“While we’re making positive strides to increase the numbers in our young stem cell donor pool, particularly for critically dependent First Nations patients, certain ancestry groups such as people from the Americas and many Asian, North African, and Middle Eastern backgrounds have just a 1 in 10 chance or less of finding a local donor.”
Although the situation can be dire for many, a more equitable future for patients in Australia is within reach, with the study’s modelling showing that expanding the donor pool and its composition will improve match likelihoods across all ancestry groups.
“If we can more than double our young donor pool from 106,000 to 250,000 young donors, every ancestry group modelled is projected to have at least a 75 per cent likelihood of finding a local suitably matched donor,” Dr O’Brien added.
“The key lies with 17 to 35-year-olds registering to become stem cell donors and potentially giving a fellow Australian, whom they’ve never met, the lifesaving match they desperately need.”
Stem Cell Donors Australia and the Leukaemia Foundation firmly believe that a larger and more representative donor pool in Australia would dramatically improve access for more local patients and decrease the need to turn to overseas donor registries to find a match.
Currently, Australia’s dependency on international donors is around 8 in 10 patients, with Mr Tanti adding that every Australian who requires a stem cell transplant deserves the same chance of finding a lifesaving match here in Australia.
“For far too many Australians, the odds of finding a local donor match are too low,” Mr Tanti said.
“Together with Stem Cell Donors Australia, we need to close the gap. We’re urgently calling for eligible Australians aged 17 to 35 – particularly those from underrepresented ancestry backgrounds – to join the registry today."
While it's a common misconception that donating stem cells is a painful procedure, the process is similar to giving blood: stem cells are collected from one arm, and blood is returned to the other.
"Donating your stem cells can literally save a life, making the decision to become a stem cell donor one of the most powerful acts of generosity a young Australian can make," Mr Tanti said.
On World Marrow Donor Day, you can help close the ancestry gap and save the life of an Australian facing blood cancer by signing up to become a stem cell donor at: stemcelldonors.org.au/leukaemiafoundation.
If you are living with blood cancer, undergoing treatment, or care for someone with blood cancer, please contact Australia's blood cancer support line for more information on stem cell transplants or becoming a donor, by calling 1800 620 420 or visit leukaemia.org.au.
-ENDS-
About us:
About the Leukaemia Foundation: The Leukaemia Foundation stands with Australia to help cure and conquer blood cancer – with care. Together, we are attacking every blood cancer, from every direction, in every way we can. We stand beside every Australian to be their voice and their someone-to-turn-to, fighting to get them access to the best care. We also accelerate research that is delivering rapid advancements in blood cancer diagnosis and treatments. Plus, we provide services and support that empower people living with any blood cancer to live well after diagnosis. You can learn more about the Leukaemia Foundation and blood cancer at leukaemia.org.au
Contact details:
Email [email protected] or call the media team on 0473 154 079.
