Stem Cells take aim at heart disease, cancer, aging and more

By Dick Pelletier

      

    Stem cells are rapidly becoming the "magic bullet" of choice in our war against killer diseases. Scientists are identifying the genetic signals that instruct stem cells to grow new tissues in hearts, bones, brains, skin, and other body parts.

    Often called the building blocks of life, many worry that these versatile medical tools will not come soon enough. U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services lists 112,000 Americans waiting for organ transplants. Fewer than 14,000 have received them so far this year, and 10,000 have died waiting. In addition, half of all those receiving organs may die within 3 years. Stem cells hold the potential to end these cruel deaths.

    Perhaps one of the best examples for success in this fledgling new science can be found in researcher Anthony Atala's lab at the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine.

    Atala was the first to build organs from scratch. He created biodegradable scaffolding, seeded them with bladder and muscle cells from patients, and then implanted the new bladders in nine children. These fortunate kids were soon able to throw away their urine bag and begin living a normal life again.

    The lab has since expanded to include more than 30 tissues and body parts. On a recent 60 Minutes TV show, Atala explained that stem cells could be programmed to grow into any organ or tissue desired. He then demonstrated to the audience a live, beating heart muscle grown in his lab.

    Stem cells might also tip the scales in the war against cancer. Scientists found that these multiplying cells are the source of most cancers. In every tumor lies a group of stem cells that feed malignant tissues.

    Whitehead Institute's Robert Weinberg believes this explains why tumors often reappear after chemo and radiation seemingly destroyed them. It also suggests new strategy for developing anti-cancer drugs: focus more on attacking cancer stem cells, not just killing cells to shrink tumors.

    Though more research is needed to realize all the hopes and dreams of this new technology, progress is advancing exponentially; especially in areas of understanding how stem cells grow into specific parts.

    However, researchers recently found that stem cells degrade as people age. This prompted a Colorado group, Stem Cell Backup, to enable people to 'bank' their stem cells for future use. Founder Patrick O'Malley says the company is now entering marketing partnerships to expand this futuristic concept.

    Las Vegas, NV scientist Walter Goldstein and partners, Warren Miller and Robert Risacher are creating a product called IVRBC that produces universal red blood cells from human stem cells, which provides blood supplies matched to patient needs. Goldstein believes they could gain FDA approval by 2018.

    The following scenario illustrates another example of tomorrow's amazing stem cell future:

    A monthly body scan reveals damaged heart muscles, placing you at risk for a heart attack. No problem, your doctor prescribes a 'supersonic drug gun' that propels regenerative protein molecules into the bloodstream. The new materials immediately bind to damaged heart muscle cells, touching off a chemical reaction that prompts your body to make new cells, quickly restoring you to perfect health.

    Though this scene may sound futuristic, Hydra Bioscience researchers say their company has already demonstrated successful tests of this procedure with rats, and they hope to launch human trials soon.

    Many now believe that stem cells represent the best remedy to eliminate disease. As we age, our stem cell reserves decline. Cells can no longer regenerate, causing our organs, muscles, skin, and immune structure to deteriorate. This progression opens the door for a variety of diseases that attack our bodies.

    Researchers have found that by replacing aging cells with new stem cells, many age-related diseases can be stopped; and as a bonus, patients receiving stem cell treatments experience an increase in energy, vigor and strength. The body and mind actually become biologically younger.

    The wonders of stem cells may only be limited by our imagination. Welcome to an amazing future.

    This article appeared in various print publications and on-line blogs. Comments always welcome.