Lung Cancer Research Could Get Boost From New Stem Cell Findings

New research conducted at the University of Cincinnati (UC) Cancer Institute suggests that lung cancer stem cells can be successfully isolated and grown in a preclinical model. Such a process could provide a new method for investigating immunotherapy treatment options that target lung cancer stem cells.

Increasing evidence supports the idea that cancerous tumors have a population of stem cells, also called cancer-initiating cells, that continually regenerate and fuel cancer growth, explains Dr. John Morris, lead author of the study and professor at the UC College of Medicine. These cancer stem cells may also have the highest potential to spread to other organs.

The researchers stated that current research models provide limited information in the interaction between cancer stem cells and the immune system. They claim this makes it virtually impossible to study therapies that utilize the bodys immune system to fight off cancer.

The new study, published this week in PLOS One, successfully isolated lung cancer stem cells that can be used in a mouse model with full immune system function. The researchers used a tumorsphere assay test to accomplish this feat, allowing them to enrich their samples to isolate cancer stem cells.

The research team now hopes to develop more effective therapies that target cancer stem cells by showing how those cells escape the bodys immune system.

One of the hypotheses behind why cancer therapies fail is that the drug only kills cells deemed to be bad (because of certain molecular characteristics), but leaves behind stem cells to repopulate the tumor, said Morris. Stem cells are not frequently dividing, so they are much less sensitive to existing chemotherapies used to eliminate cells deemed abnormal.

Studying these unique cells could greatly improve our understanding of lung cancers origins and lead to the novel therapeutics targeting these cells and help to more effectively eradicate this disease. Immunotherapy is the future of cancer treatment. We are hopeful that this new method will accelerate our investigation of immunotherapies to specifically target cancer stem cells.

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Lung Cancer Research Could Get Boost From New Stem Cell Findings

Stem cell finding could advance immunotherapy for lung cancer

ScienceDaily (Nov. 13, 2012) A University of Cincinnati (UC) Cancer Institute lung cancer research team reports that lung cancer stem cells can be isolated -- and then grown -- in a preclinical model, offering a new avenue for investigating immunotherapy treatment options that specifically target stem cells.

John C. Morris, MD, and his colleagues report their findings in the Nov. 13, 2012, issue of PLoS One, a peer-reviewed online publication.

Stem cells are unique cells that can divide and differentiate into specialized cells types -- for example cardiac muscle or liver tissue. These cells also have the ability to self-renew and produce more stem cells.

"Increasing evidence supports the idea that cancerous tumors have a population of stem cells, also called cancer-initiating cells, that continually regenerate and fuel cancer growth," explains Morris, senior author of the study and professor at the UC College of Medicine. "These cancer stem cells may also have the highest potential to spread to other organs."

Current models used to study cancer stem cells provide limited information on the interaction between cancer stem cells with the immune system, making the study of new therapies that utilize the body's immune system to fight off cancer virtually impossible.

In this study, the UC team set out to find a viable, consistent way to isolate lung cancer stem cells that could be used in a mouse model with full immune system function. The team was able to achieve this using a functional laboratory test known as "tumorsphere" assay.

The test -- which shows how cells grow in culture -- allowed them to enrich for cancer stem cells.

"Studying these unique cells could greatly improve our understanding of lung cancer's origins and lead to the novel therapeutics targeting these cells and help to more effectively eradicate this disease," adds Morris. "Immunotherapy is the future of cancer treatment. We are hopeful that this new method will accelerate our investigation of immunotherapies to specifically target cancer stem cells."

The team is working to characterize how cancer stem cells escape the body's immune system in order to develop more effective therapies that target stem cells.

"One of the hypotheses behind why cancer therapies fail is that the drug only kills cells deemed to be 'bad' (because of certain molecular characteristics), but leaves behind stem cells to repopulate the tumor," adds Morris. "Stem cells are not frequently dividing, so they are much less sensitive to existing chemotherapies used to eliminate cells deemed abnormal."

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Stem cell finding could advance immunotherapy for lung cancer

Kyev/Kiev Sana Stem Cells Part 2…. – Video

Kyev/Kiev Sana Stem Cells Part 2....
Geoffrey in Kiev and stem cell treatment very calm as cutting G`s hair requires 3 people..From:ANGUS FILESViews:0 0ratingsTime:11:49More inNews Politics

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Kyev/Kiev Sana Stem Cells Part 2.... - Video

Hair Loss Treatment – Video

Hair Loss Treatment
At each cell division in your hair follicles on your scalp , the frequencies encoded in this video along with the subliminal and supraliminal progamming will cause those new cells to become or take on the attributes of embryonic stem cells, and also increase the concentration of human growth hormone, in your scalp all working towards stimulating and pushing for hair recovery, thickening and full growth. The end product should be you with a full head of hair. Effective and cost free. You can look at it as often as you wish for faster results. All sounds and images are the copyright of sapienmedicine.com (formerly projectvampire)From:projectvampireTVViews:1 2ratingsTime:10:02More inScience Technology

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Hair Loss Treatment - Video

DOH to issue guidelines on stem cell treatment in Philippines

By: Philippine News Agency November 11, 2012 8:29 AM

Stem cell tray. FILE PHOTO FROM AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE/GETTY IMAGES

InterAksyon.com The online news portal of TV5

MANILA - The Department of Health (DOH) is expected to come up with the guidelines on the practice of stem cell treatment in the Philippines by the end of the month.

According to DOH Secretary Enrique Ona, the consultative working task force has already been convened to formulate recommendations on how to handle the growing popularity of stem cell technology among Filipinos.

Ona said that at present, stem cell therapy is still considered as an investigational intervention and there is still no scientific evidence about its efficacy, safety and quality.

Stem cell research employs both autologous (from same person) or allogenic (from another organism like animal or another human cell or tissue sample) method. Because there are many steps in the preparation of this lab and invasive procedure, there is therefore need to have a regulatory framework to protect Filipino citizens, he said.

Ona ordered the creation of the task force after observing the growing number of healthcare facilities that offer stem cell services. He was also concerned about the possible use of aborted fetuses or human embryos for the procedures.

The task force is composed of Food and Drug Administration acting director Dr. Kenneth Hartigan-Go, Philippine Council for Health Research and Development director Dr. Jaime Montoya, and scientists from the University of the Philippines National Institute of Health and Marine Science.

It will come up with regulatory framework covering five fundamental areas, namely: sources of raw stem cell materials; observance of good laboratory practices in the preparation of the tissue and the cells; credentialing of scientists involved in the technology; monitoring of marketing claims; and regulation or accreditation of facilities.

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DOH to issue guidelines on stem cell treatment in Philippines

First Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease Patient Receives NiCord® Stem Cell Transplantation in Gamida Cell Pilot Study at …

JERUSALEM--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Gamida Cell Ltd., a world leader in stem cell population expansion technologies and stem cell therapy products for transplantation and regenerative medicine, announced today that the first patient, enrolled in its pilot study of NiCord as an investigational treatment for sickle cell disease (SCD), has been transplanted at Duke University in North Carolina.

Gamida Cell CEO Dr. Yael Margolin said, The NiCord study is a first step in broadening Gamida Cells pipeline of cell therapies to treat patients who suffer from severe non-malignant diseases with a very large unmet clinical need.

SCD is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders where red blood cells become hard and sticky and look like a C-shaped farm tool called a sickle. According to statistics, SCD affects 90,000 to 100,000 in the US alone, mainly African-Americans and Hispanic-Americans. Symptoms range in type and severity. SCD can be fatal and to date, the only cure for SCD is stem cell transplantation from a family related matched donor.

Dr. Margolin continued, Sickle cell disease can be cured with a successful bone marrow transplantation, especially from a family related fully matched donor. Most patients do not pursue this option, since they do not have the suitable donor. NiCord is intended to reverse this situation and provide a readily available cure.

NiCord is an expanded cell graft derived from an entire unit of umbilical cord blood and enriched with stem cells. NiCord was developed based on Gamida Cells proprietary NAM technology.

The official name of the study is Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation of NiCord, Umbilical Cord Blood-Derived Ex Vivo Expanded Stem and Progenitor Cells, in Combination With a Second, Unmanipulated Cord Blood Unit in Patients With Sickle Cell Disease. http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01590628?term=nicord&rank=1. A total of 10 patients, ages 2 21, will be enrolled in the NiCord study, a single center, single arm trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of transplanting NiCord together with a second un-manipulated cord blood unit in patients with SCD following myeloablative therapy. The study will also assess transplant-related mortality, event-free survival and overall survival at 100, 180 and 365 days, respectively.

About Gamida Cell

Gamida Cell is a world leader in stem cell population expansion technologies and stem cell therapy products for transplantation and regenerative medicine. The companys pipeline of stem cell therapy products are in development to treat a wide range of conditions including blood cancers, solid tumors, non-malignant hematological diseases such as hemoglobinopathies, neutropenia and acute radiation syndrome, autoimmune diseases and metabolic diseases as well as conditions that can be helped by regenerative medicine. Gamida Cells therapeutic candidates contain populations of adult stem cells, selected from non-controversial sources such as umbilical cord blood, bone marrow and peripheral blood, which are expanded in culture. Gamida Cells current shareholders include: Elbit Imaging (EMITF), Clal Biotechnology Industries (CBI.TA), Israel Healthcare Venture, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (TEVA), Amgen, Denali Ventures and Auriga Ventures. For more information, please visit: http://www.gamida-cell.com.

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First Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease Patient Receives NiCord® Stem Cell Transplantation in Gamida Cell Pilot Study at ...