Treatments using Stem Cells

Although bone marrow transplantation was tried by Georges Mathé in 1969, the first successful bone marrow transplant was done by E. Donnal Thomas in the from 1950-1970 in the Fred Huchingson Cancer Research Center. The first bone marrow transplant for a disease other then cancer was done in 1968 by Robert A. Good in the University of Minnesota. The three methods described below are commonly used in clinics in order to treat types of diseases of the blood. Most commonly, they are used in cancer cases after severe medication, because this medication attacks the growing cells to prevent the cancer from developing. Unfortunately, the cytotoxic agents present in these meds cannot distinguish between the cancer and other healthy growing cells and attacks them all. Therefore, the methods below aim at renewing these cells.




Bone Marrow Transplantation: Bone marrow is a soft, sponge-like material found inside bones. It contains hematopoietic blood cells, which divide and become blood-forming cells, which later become three types of blood cells. White blood cells, red blood cells and platelets are formed by these cells when they are injected intravenously just like any other blood transplant. Once they are in the body, the bone marrow cells travel to the bone marrow and go through a process called engrafment, where different types of blood cells are produced. Depending on the disease of the patient, bone marrow transplantation might effectively lead to renewal of blood cells in 3 weeks to 1 year. 
Matching a donor and a receptor for bone marrow transplantation depends on how well the HLA of the receptor match that of the donor. HLA are human leukocyte associated antigens, which are on the surface of the bone marrow stem cell. These proteins can be identified by a specific blood test. If the donor and the receptor are closely related, there is a higher probability for matching HLA's. Being from the same racial background also helps in terms of compatibility. Obtaining bone marrow for transplantation is a fairly simple process. It involves taking the bone marrow under a general anesthesia. Harvesting (the process of collecting the bone-marrow) takes about one hour and is generally done through the pelvic  bone.  

Since Peripheral Blood Cells also contain stem cells, they can be transplanted by a process called Peripheral Blood Cell Transplantation or PBCT.In this process, blood is collected from the donor, filtered, the stem cells removed and then transfused back into the body. This process takes about 6 hours and the donor will probably be given some medication 4 days before the process to increase the number of stem cells in the blood. 

The last process that uses stem cells as a form of treatment is the Umbilical Cord Stem Cell Collection. In this process, blood is collected from the placenta and the umbilical cord of the baby when it is born. Then, this blood is collected and stored. Since this method of collection only provides little stem cells, it is usually used only for babies or small children in cases as the ones described above. 

Apart from these methods, many others are currently being tested. Stem cells are being tested to cure other types of cancer, mainly brain cancer, but this research has not shown many promising results because brain cancer spreads too fast. Brain damage also can be treated by stem cells, which can regenerate dead brain matter, but the lack of robustness of the cells doesn’t generate recovery.
One of the most promising researches is of the use of stem cells for heart disease cures. After suffering infarcts, these stem cells can regenerate heart muscle tissue and blood vessels. Since 2003, corneal stem cell transplants have been successful. Since the cornea doesn't have blood vessels, it is much easier to transplant compared to other organs.
Stem cells are also used for treating missing teeth, baldness, spinal cord injury, diabetes and infertility.