Stem Cell Research - Part II: The Benefits of Adult Stem Cell Therapy

In Part I, I summarized the basics of stem cell research and cloning, discussed the moral implications of embryonic stem cell research, and the politics involved. Here in Kansas, our bishops, in conjunction with the Knights of Columbus, have been working very hard to educate the public - especially Catholics - about stem cell research.

A new short documentary commissioned and released by the four Catholic bishops of Kansas entitled “The Science of Stem Cells: Finding Cures and Protecting Life” figures to play a key role in educating the public about what is involved. View it here.

You can read A Pastoral Letter from the Catholic Bishops of Kansas - full text to learn more.

In this post, I would like to share some of the miraculous results scientists and physicians have obtained through adult stem cell research. First, let's review the definition of an adult stem cell.

An adult stem cell is a differentiated stem cell obtained from adult tissue, blood from the umbilical cord, and other sources. Versatile stem cells have been found in bone marrow, blood, muscle, fat, nerves, amniotic fluid, and even the pulp of baby teeth. Many successful therapies have been developed using these adult stem cells. Using adult stem cells in research poses no moral problems as it does not involve the destruction of human life and it has been highly successful.

Research on adult stem cells has recently generated a great deal of enthusiasm and excitement. Scientists have found adult stem cells in many more tissues than they once thought possible. This finding has led scientists to ask whether adult stem cells could be used for transplants. In fact, adult blood forming stem cells from bone marrow have been used in transplants for 30 years.

It has now been found that adult stem cells (including umbilical cord cells) can differentiate into nerve, skin, lung, liver, cartilage, bone, and insulin-producing pancreatic islet cells. They have been used to treat leukemia, sickle cell anemia, stroke, spinal cord injuries, and more.


The advantages of Adult Stem Cells:

  • Can be extracted from umbilical cord blood with no harm to the donor.
  • Can be extracted from a number of adult tissues. Many patients can be treated with their own stem cells, providing a perfect match without the need to grow and kill a clone of the patient.
  • Are able to generate virtually all adult tissues.
  • Can multiply almost indefinitely, providing numbers sufficient for clinical treatments.
  • Have the ability to "hone in" on damage.
  • Avoid problems with tumor formation and transplant rejection.
  • Avoid ethical problems of Embryonic stem cells and Somatic cell nuclear transfer (cloning).

Here are just a few of the many examples of success cases using adult stem cell research.

  1. Ian Rosenberg, 70
  • From Great Britain
  • Heart attacks since age 38, at age 67, he was told he had two months to live.
  • Went to Germany for injections of his own bone marrow, containing adult stem cells, into his heart.
  • Called the results "a miracle". Established a charity in Britain to fund a trial with 700 patients to study repair of damaged hearts with adult stem cells (http://www.heartcellsfoundation.org/).
  • Died on August 26, 2006, three years after his treatment. His family feels that the treatment added over two years to his life.

2. Dennis Tuner, 64

  • From California
  • Onset of Parkinson's disease in 1990
  • Went to Cedars - Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles in 1999, and was treated with his own neural stem cells.
  • Had an 80% reduction in symptoms for four years. Because Parkinson's is a progressive disease, his symptoms have been slowly beginning to return, and he awaits further treatments.

3. Amy Foels, 21

  • From Iowa
  • Paralyzed from the waist down in a 2002 car accident
  • Went to Dr. Carlos Lima in Lisbon, Portugal, in 2005 to become the 38th person in the world to receive a treatment from adult stem cells in her own nasal tissue.
  • She can flex her hip muscles and her steps are improving.

4. Patrizia Durante, 31

  • From Quebec
  • Diagnosed with leukemia in 2001 while 27 weeks pregnant. Given 6 months to live.
  • Doctors at Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal collected her daughter's umbilical cord blood. It contained adult stem cells, which were used to replenish her bone marrow. Durante is in full remission.

5. Gina Rugari, 6

  • From Ohio
  • Born with Krabbe's Leukodystrophy.
  • Three weeks after her birth, she went to Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C. She was treated with chemotherapy and then received umbilical cord blood from a donor.
  • Today, she is thriving.

Part III: Coming Soon ... What Can You Do?

Sources: Kansans for Life, Our Sunday Visitor

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