Limits of stem cell therapy
Some patients see a marked improvement after treatment with adult stem cells, but the same treatment will have no effect on others. Thus, there is a need for further research: What is the mechanism that causes the stem cells to work? Which messengers implement the healing process? How great is the potential of adult stem cells to integrate into the tissue? And what does this transformation into different cell types depend on?
Stem cell quality
Great importance is attached to the quality of the bone marrow used. In older humans, there is a decrease in stem cells’ viability and their ability to divide. The question –from what point have the bone marrow stem cells exhausted their healing potential– is especially important for diseases that appear in a later period of life. Many researchers believe that research results will lead to the conclusion that the preventative withdrawal of stem cells is necessary.
Embryonic stem cell controversy
The discussions in the field of stem cell therapy being held nowadays usually refer to embryonic stem cells. To obtain these, embryos, i.e. fertilized ovum from which a whole human can develop, must be killed. Many people understandably oppose the idea of using embryos as spare parts stores. Regardless of these discussions, the use of embryonic stem cells is still far from being clinically viable because embryonic stem cells have an amplificatory effect and may therefore accelerate the growth of tumors. This is also why many doctors see adult stem cells as the silver bullet of regenerative medicine.
The XCell-Center uses only adult stem cells for treatment and research.
Proceed to “Stem cell treatment and tumor risk”