New Victories for Adult Stem Cell Research Scientists Make Headway in
Treating Damaged Hearts with Muscle, Fat and Bone Marrow Cells
The Adult Stem Cell Research Network announced that new clinical and
pre-clinical data on adult stem cells was presented at the 4th Annual
Meeting of Cell Therapy for Cardiovascular Disease Sponsored by the
Cardiovascular Research Foundation. Held at Columbia University, it
attracted over 300 attendees from around the world.
New York, NY (PRWEB) February 8, 2008 -- The Adult Stem Cell Research
Network announced that new clinical and pre-clinical data on adult
stem cells was presented at the 4th Annual Meeting of Cell Therapy
for Cardiovascular Disease Sponsored by the Cardiovascular Research
Foundation. Held at Columbia University, it attracted over 300
attendees from around the world.
Two studies show encouraging promise in using adult muscle stem cells
derived from a patients own thigh tissue to treat advanced heart
failure.
Dr. Warren Sherman of Columbia University and Dr. Nabil Dib of the
University of California, San Diego presented data on this approach,
which has been used to treat over 300 patients in clinical trials
since 2000. The procedure involves delivering cells via a thin
plastic tube with an injection needle on the tip, inserted in the
patients groin and directed to the inside of the heart in order to
grow new muscle in the hearts scar tissue.
Dr. Sherman presented final one year results of the MYOHEART trial
sponsored by Bioheart, Inc., in which 83 percent of patients treated
in this manner with adult muscle stem cells, also known as myoblasts,
improved. Only 17 percent remained unchanged or worsened. Eighty-
three percent of myoblast treated heart failure patients improving
compares favorably with the 369 patient 'gold-standard' bi-
ventricular pacer study where approximately 55 percent of the 187
treated patients showed improvement in NYHA Class or quality of life
score as compared to only 40 percent improvement for the 182 control
patients who were on drug therapy alone stated Dr. Sherman. A
separate study led by Dr. Nabil Dib, sponsored by Advanced Cell
Therapy, Inc., showed similar results, and both groups have now moved
onto Phase II/III placebo controlled trials currently in the process
of enrolling together more than 495 patients. The procedure (16
injections in a cardiac cath lab) takes about 45 minutes.
Adipose Derived Stem Cells
Dr. Keith March of the Indiana University Medical Center, Indiana
Center for Vascular Biology and Medicine, Professor Patrick Serruys
of the ThoraxCentre, Rotterdam, Netherlands, and Francisco Fernandez-
Avils of Madrid, Spain all presented data related to the use of stem
cells derived from a patients own adipose (fat) tissue. Pre-clinical
studies have demonstrated improved blood flow and a reduction of scar
size when adipose derived stem cells are provided within a short time
period following the heart attack by coronary infusion. Dr. March
presented data that two cell types, adipose stem cells and
endothelial progenitor cells, work in partnership to provide much
more blood flow than either cell type can alone. Clinical studies of
cells from adipose tissue have begun at a number of centers
worldwide. We are very interested to see that cells from adipose
tissue are being tested in these early trials, said Dr. March, noting
that the use of one's own cells from fat tissue is potentially a very
practical approach. Various studies are being sponsored separately by
Cytori Therapeutics, Inc., Tissue Genesis, Inc. and Bioheart, Inc.
Bone Marrow Derived Stem Cells
Dr. Andreas M. Zeiher, MD, of the University of Frankfurt (Frankfurt,
Germany), and a number of other researchers provided both pre-
clinical and clinical data from the use of bone marrow derived cells.
These cells seem to function primarily by promoting growth of new
blood vessels, which can help preserve tissue following a heart
attack. Data from clinical studies of hundreds of patients has
demonstrated a noticeable improvement in heart function, especially
in patients whose hearts start with low pumping ability. More
clinical studies are in progress. Sponsors of bone marrow cell
studies include Osiris Therapeutics and Boston Scientific Guidant.
Modified Adult Stem Cells
Dr. Marc Penn from Cleveland Clinic presented pre-clinical data
demonstrating that adult muscle stem cells (myoblasts) modified to
overexpress SDF-1 (stromalderived factor-1) are able to achieve
significant improvements in the pumping ability of the heart.
Myoblasts alone in his study provided a 27 percent improvement of the
pumping ability of the damaged animal hearts he treated, while SDF-1
modified myoblasts provided a 54 percent improvement. Dr. Penn is
very optimistic about the future of such heart therapies. Clearly
this is a multi-year process, he says. We are only in Phase I, but
the excitement over this treatment is a direct result of past
successes. [Through stem cell research, we're getting to where we can
not only help victims live after an attack, but can improve heart
functioning and help them live more meaningful lives. We desperately
need this research. Many years of lab and animal research have now
led to an application with the FDA for human clinical studies of this
modified stem cell composition derived from a patient's own thigh
muscle. Bioheart, Inc. is sponsoring the pre-clinical development of
this composition for treating advanced heart failure.
Many of the researchers whom presented at the Columbia meeting are
members of the Adult Stem Cell Research Network, a project of the
Cell Therapy Foundation. For further information on adult stem cell
research or the Cell Therapy Foundation and upcoming fund raising
events, please contact Brent Clifton, Executive Director at
brent.clifton@
fund raising dinner in New York in the near future.
ABOUT THE ADULT STEM CELL RESEARCH NETWORK
The Adult Stem Cell Research Network (http://www.ascrnetw
a project of the Cell Therapy Foundation dedicated to connecting
researchers with research. The Cell Therapy Foundation's focus is to
advance adult stem cell research and increase public awareness of
progress in the field, ultimately improving human lives.
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