“Latest Stem Cells News”

The key to eradicating tumors and preventing relapses and metastasis is buried within the tumor itself. The tumor cells themselves contain a sort of needle in the haystack. Just 1% of the total volume of the tumor is responsible for reproduction, and a targeted surgery or drugs could be sufficient enough to “deactivate” the tumor and avoid any possibility of a reoccurrence. This type of treatment could possibly change the therapeutic approach to malignant tumors according to an Italian study at the Superior Health Institute (ISS) by Professor Ruggero De Maria, the Director of the Hematology, Oncology, and Molecular Medicine Department of the ISS in collaboration with professor Vito D’Andrea of the ‘Sapienza’ University in Rome.

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A new method to reprogram adult cells making them similar to stem cells has been discovered. The key protein in the discovery is Wnt, already known to scientists for its involvement in numerous phases of development in vertebrates and invertebrates. The study, conducted by the Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM) in Naples by Maria Pia Cosma, was published in the online version of Cell Stem Cell magazine. The study involved various types of adult cells including fibroblasts, thymus cells, and neural precursor cells, which were fused with embryonic stem cells in the presence of the Wnt protein. Following the manipulation, the adult cells transformed into undifferentiated cells (pluripotent) able to give rise to cells and tissues different from their initial programming.

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At the San Timoteo Hospital in Termoli-Larino (Molise, a small region in south central Italy, formerly part of the region “Abruzzi e Molise”) everything is ready for stem cells gathering - in conjunction with the orthopedy ward (branch of medicine dealing with diseases of the bones and joints) – which will be used for local treatments, above all on pseudo-arthrosis.

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Michela and Alessandro from Sassari (Sardinia) are Kevin‘s parents, a 2 age old child suffering from spastic quadriparesis and optic nerve hypoplasia (blindness). Since he was born he endured 4 surgeries: kidneys, heart, bladder tumor and genital rebuilding.
Then Bangkok. And now the parents are hoping.
But Kevin is not alone because there are more than 100 Italian citizens treated with chinese cord stem cells in Bangkok’s hospital.

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It has been about 8 years since Salsabil, the first Palestinia baby suffering congenital immunodeficiency (Ada-Scid), has been healed using gene therapy. And it has been about 7 years since her story to Abdul Rahim’s one, a Pakistani baby born in the end of 2006 in Qatar.
His parents did lose 3 children because of Ada-Scid, and Abdul’s case is one of the most symbolic.
Just after his birth doctors did diagnose his illness and succeeded to healt his pneumonia during his first days of life.
So Abdul’s parents and doctors who were follow him contacted the San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (Hsr-Tiget), starting files to bring him in Italy.

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Stem cells from umbilical cords are increasingly being stored in private banks for autologous use. “Newsweek” added to the debate writing about Dallas Hextell, who at the age of  8 months  was diagnosed with cerebral paralysis, a condition normally caused by serious neural damage due to oxygen deprivation in the uterus or at birth. His parents consulted various neurologists, but the possibility of a recovery was virtually non-existant.

About 9 months later, when given the opportunity to participate in a Duke University clinical study on autologous stem cell transplants (stem cells that are stored for later use by the same donor) the couple did not let the opportunity slip away. When Dallas was born, blood from his umbilical cord was removed for autologous use. His parents paid, like in Italy, to store the umbilical cord in a private bank.

A week after the transplant, Dallas suddenly started to speak, calling for his mother. Today he is 2 years old and is able to walk on his own and do the unthinkable for a child with cerebral paralysis. This story truely puts an interesting spin on the controversial topic of stem cell storage.

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