ADULT STEM CELLS

August 2004
		Adult stem cells, which come from bone marrow, skin, brain, blood and muscle, appear to have enormous potential to help repair the body. But individual studies on stem cell therapy are showing mixed results. Helen Blau, Ph.D., of the Stanford University School of Medicine and Charles Murry, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Washington's Department of Pathology answer your questions.

Online NewsHour Special Report: Adult Stem Cells Forum Introduction If the current restrictions posed on stem cell research were eliminated, how long would it be before initial procedures for spinal cord injuries would begin to appear? I have Parkinson's and I'm 51 years old. What's a possible timetable for the application of stem cell therapy to help me and others in my age range? Why can't stem cells derived from bone marrow be cultured and the injected locally into regions of the brain that has been damaged as a consequence of a stroke? What are your feelings on the potential of umbilical cord blood as a source of stem cell transplantation? Is it true that the research to date is not applicable to all ethnic groups, particularly, persons of African decent? Can stem cells injected into the body cause cancers? What kind of research is happening in this country, and when can I see human research here?	Andrew Hofley of Bloomfield, Mich., asks: Thank you for the opportunity to learn more. What are your feelings on the potential of umbilical cord blood as a source of stem cell transplantation? Does cord blood have the potential to replace bone marrow on a national scale? Dr. Charles Murry responds: Most hematologists think that the stem cells from bone marrow are about the same as those from cord blood, with the exception that marrow has a few cell types that are not too common in cord blood. Cord blood is often marketed as something we can bank for ourselves, and then thaw if we become sick later. At the moment, though, the most common use for either marrow or cord blood is to replace someone's bone marrow after treatment for cancers like leukemia, lymphoma or some solid tumors. It turns out that part of the therapeutic effect of this treatment is an anti-tumor function of the new marrow. For this "graft vs. tumor" effect, it requires some degree of mismatch between the stem cell donor and the patient. In that case, using the patient's own marrow would be less desirable, because it would not reject the tumor cells. I think cord blood banking may be very useful because it is relatively easy and it should allow us to store many hard-to-obtain cell types, such as in some ethnic groups. Dr. Helen Blau responds: We, stem cell researchers, are hopeful that cord blood will be a good source of stem cells and many people are already storing it for the future when their children are born. Unfortunately currently we do not know enough (more research needs to be done) to know its true potential in regenerative medicine as a source of useful stem cells to replenish tissues.

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