From: Chambard Torkelson, Vicki L. [mailto:[log in to unmask]]

Sent: July 08, 2011 10:37
Subject: Mayo Clinic News Release: Moving Beyond Embryonic Stem Cells:
Encouragement on the Horizon

 

July 8, 2011    

Duska Anastasijevic 
507-284-5005 (days) 
507-284-2511 (evenings) 
Email: [log in to unmask] 

For Immediate Release 

Moving Beyond Embryonic Stem Cells: Encouragement on the Horizon 

ROCHESTER, Minn. -- For nearly two decades, the medical world and the
American public have grappled with the lightning-rod topic of stem cells, in
particular the controversy surrounding cells from human embryos. But when
researchers four years ago successfully "reprogrammed" adult body cells to
become stem cells, some thought the ethical debate was nearly over. Those
redirected cells, known as induced pluripotent cells, or iPS cells
<http://www.mayoclinic.org/news2009-rst/5353.html> , show potential as
therapy. 

"The benefit is they require no destruction of human embryos," says Mayo
Clinic hematologist/oncologist C. Christopher Hook, M.D.
<http://www.mayoclinic.org/bio/10315624.html> , an author reviewing the
science and ethics of stem cell technologies in the July issue of Mayo
Clinic Proceedings <http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.com> . "The hope is
that these cells may make embryonic stem cells unnecessary, but, according
to the stem cell scientists, we're not there yet."

Scientists who specialize in stem cells
<http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stem-cells/CA00081>  continue to regard
embryo-derived cells as the gold standard among stem cells in pluripotency,
the capacity to become any tissue in the body. Other stem cell technologies
have benefits: Blood, bone marrow, and umbilical cord cells contain stem
cells that treat leukemia
<http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/leukemia/DS00351>  and other blood
cancers, but because they are adult stem cells lacking pluripotency, they've
shown limitations as universal regenerative therapies. The newcomers on the
scene, iPS cells, can be taken directly from each patient and genetically
redirected to replace ailing cells, avoiding immune rejection or the need
for existing embryos or eggs to create embryos. 

Hook cautions that there are still challenges with iPS cells, and the public
shouldn't expect therapies to roll out in the next year or so. 

"One of the problems with the history of stem cell technologies in general
has been the unrealistic hype and promise of therapies far faster than the
science could produce," Hook says.

In an editorial in the same issue, medical geneticist Andre Terzic, M.D.,
Ph.D <http://www.mayoclinic.org/bio/11556528.html> ., the Marriott Family
Professor of Cardiovascular Research at Mayo Clinic, states that iPS
technology may not have reached fruition, but is invaluable for learning
about diseases and testing new treatments.  

"We need to accelerate the pace of this research, and speed discoveries in
regenerative medicine to help patients," Terzic says.

Worldwide, however, state-of-the-art research still depends on embryonic
stem cells, at least in serving as a biological yardstick. 

"This is a topic that remains charged and highly politicized," Hook says.
"Some claim the controversy about the need for embryonic stem cells should
now be resolved.  Hopefully, in time, with iPS's the perceived need for and
use of human embryonic stem cells will rapidly become obsolete, but,
according to many in the scientific community, we're far from being done
with them. There may be another option in the use of these new cells, but
it's going to take time."

A peer-reviewed journal, Mayo Clinic Proceedings publishes original articles
and reviews dealing with clinical and laboratory medicine, clinical
research, basic science research and clinical epidemiology. Mayo Clinic
Proceedings is published monthly by Mayo Foundation for Medical Education
and Research <http://www.mayo.edu/>  as part of its commitment to the
medical education of physicians. The journal has been published for more
than 80 years and has a circulation of 130,000 nationally and
internationally. Articles are available online at
www.mayoclinicproceedings.com.

### 

About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit worldwide leader in medical care, research and
education for people from all walks of life. For more information, visit
http:// HYPERLINK  <http://>
"http://www.mayoclinic.org/about/"www.mayoclinic.org/about/ and
www.mayoclinic.org/news.

 


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