A group of Chinese and European doctors, lawyers and bioethicists has called on countries around the world to ban unproven and potentially unsafe stem cell treatments. The group, known as Bionet, says patients “subjected to a huge amount of hype” and desperate for stem cell treatments are wasting thousands of dollars traveling abroad. A team of Bionet investigators that visited stem cell clinics in China and India said that “stem cell research was being moved too rapidly into clinical practice without proper study.” About 150 clinics in China offer unproven stem cell treatments at an average cost of US$25,000. China recently proposed new guidelines calling for clinical trials of treatments before they are used therapeutically.
“Safety call over stem cell trips”, September 3, 2009, © BBC
Sixteen-year-old Michael Johnson of Vienna Township, Mich., paralyzed from the chest down since he was 12 from a motorcycle racing accident, will be flying to Portugal soon to undergo an experimental stem cell transplant he hopes will repair his spinal cord and enable him to walk again. His parents will be paying $50,000 for the treatment, on top of travel costs and a year of post-operative physical therapy. A Portuguese neuropathologist will transplant stem cells harvested from Michael’s nose into the spinal cord break to regenerate lost neural connections. “All of it would change my life, just to get anything back,” Michael said.
By Elizabeth Shaw, “Paralyzed teen racer traveling to Portugal for stem cell therapy”, September 4, 2009, © The Flint Journal
A wheelchair-bound 16-year-old Janesville, Wisc., boy diagnosed with Type 2 spinal muscular atrophy as an infant recently returned from China, where he underwent a month-long series of experimental stem cell treatments. Kyle Knopes said the treatments “worked like a miracle:” he is now able to open and close his hands, lift his arms, and has more energy. The eight treatments, which were accompanied by physical therapy, involved injections of stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood. Kyle hopes that the treatments have slowed the progression of the disease.
“Janesville teen undergoes experimental stem cell treatment”, September 3, 2009, © WorldNow and WKOW TV
Experimental stem cell cancer treatments in the Dominican Republic and Germany failed to stem the progress of author Dominick Dunne’s bladder cancer. The 83-year-old former Hollywood producer died August 26. Like the late actress Farrah Fawcett, Dunne was treated unsuccessfully at Germany’s Leonardis Clinic in Bad Heilbrunn. The clinic nevertheless claims a high success rate. The U.S. FDA does not yet allow the use of stem cells to treat cancer because treatments have not proven universally safe or effective. “…[T]hose [countries] that are ahead of us in this area haven’t been able to show any real benefit, and I don’t think American patients are missing out on anything in this area,” said Dr. Stan Gerson, director of the Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine of Cleveland, Ohio.
By Cathy Doheny, “Dominick Dunne dies of bladder cancer after experimental stem cell treatments”, Examiner.com, August 26, 2009, © 2009 Clarity Digital Group LLC d/b/a Examiner.com
An eight-year-old Titusville, Fla., girl born with Type II spinal muscular atrophy will be making an 8,000-mile trip to Qingdao, China, for a month-long round of controversial stem cell treatments to straighten her arms and legs and boost her immune system. A genetic disease that disrupts a person’s ability to voluntarily control muscle movement, SMA also caused restrictive lung disease and polycystic kidney disease in the girl. With a life expectancy of 15 to 30 years, Sierra Journey Factor and her family are willing to spend the $36,000 for six umbilical cord blood-derived stem cell injections, plus $6,000 for the 16-hour journey. “Stem cells are probably going to help me straighten my arms, my fingers and help me sit up straighter,” Sierra said. “And to lift my hands up in the air.”
By Amanda Stratford, “Titusville girl prepares for trip to China for stem cell therapy”, August 27, 2009, © Florida Today
