Stem Cell Update

Embryonic stem cell research has been the leading edge for stem cell therapy for some time, and has been awash in controversy and issues.  Among them are the ethical issues surrounding their use and how they are obtained.   To add to the stem cell controversy, a recent report from Israel published in PLoS Medicine in late February shows that embryonic stem cells injected into patients can cause disabling if not deadly tumors.

With that news and other similar reports the future of embryonic stem cells has dimmed.  In its wake, adult stem cell research has scored major wins, some evident in medical literature in just the past few months. These advances involve human stem cells that are not derived from human embryos. In fact, adult stem cells, which occur in small quantities in organs throughout the body for natural growth and repair, have become stars despite skepticism early on. Though this is a more difficult task, scientists have learned to coax them to mature into many cell types, like brain and heart cells, in the laboratory. Such stem cells can be removed almost as easily as drawing a unit of blood, and they have been used successfully for years in bone marrow transplants. To date, most of the stem cell triumphs that the public hears about involve the infusion of adult stem cells.

Stem cell controversy will continue for some time yet, as many scientists disagree on methods and results.  However, research will continue on many fronts with new breakthroughs occurring almost weekly.  One day, the way medicine is practiced will be dramatically altered due to these advances, and stem cell controversies aside, everyone will benefit.