A stem cell transplant, known as a bone marrow transplant, can cure some illnesses. But the procedure is so toxic that it is currently used to treat only the most critical cases. This is because to successfully transplant blood stem cells, doctors use chemotherapy or radiation therapy, treatments that are toxic enough to damage a variety of organs and even lead to death.
So, to avoid the terrible side effects of chemotherapy during a bone marrow transplant, US researchers have developed a process that mimics the approach used in immunotherapy, according to the results of a study published in the medical journal. Science Translational Medicine. In this technique, cancer patients undergo a treatment that somehow “trains” their immune system to kill cancer cells on its own. It has been shown to be effective in mice.
A therapeutic breakthrough in stem cell transplantation
Scientists at Stanford University in the United States have developed a way of carrying out this therapy in mice, considerably reducing its toxicity. If the method proves effective and safe for humans, it could be used to cure autoimmune diseases like lupus, the diabetes juvenile and multiple sclerosis, correct congenital metabolic disorders such as “bubble child” disease and treat many more types of Cancer. It may also make organ transplants safer and more efficient.
“There is hardly any disease or organ transplant that is not affected by this study,” said Irving Weissman, professor of biology and cell development at Stanford and co-author of the report. These encouraging results must be confirmed by human tests.
“If it works on humans like it worked on mice, we hope the risk of death drops from 20% to zero,” said lead author of the study Judith Shizuru, professor of medicine at Stanford. .
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