The news that Formula One legend Michael Schumacher was moved to a hospital in Paris last week for pioneering stem cell therapy has provoked a fever of hope and speculation among fans that his condition could be improved.
After suffering devastating head injuries in a ski accident almost six years ago, Schumacher was placed in a coma for six months and has been receiving treatment at his home in Switzerland. He has not been seen in public since the accident.
His privacy is closely guarded and, while it is understood he cannot walk or stand, and, according to former Ferrari manager, Jean Todt, he may still have trouble communicating, nothing has been confirmed officially.
No wonder then that fans have been so excited to hear Schumacher is now under the care of world-renowned cardiac surgeon Philippe Menasch, described as a "pioneer in cell surgery" at the Georges-Pompidou hospital in Paris.
READ MORE:* Schumacher 'conscious' after treatment*Corinna Schumacher provides rare update*Schumacher 'struggles' to communicate*Mick Schumacher trying to emulate his dad
Stem cells are cells that can differentiate or change into other types of cell, opening the possibility of replacing damaged cells with healthy ones. Scientists have been looking into their use since the Sixties, most successfully so far in cases of cancers of the blood or bone marrow. More than 26,000 patients are treated with blood stem cells in Europe each year.
And since the Eighties, skin stem cells have been used to grow skin grafts for patients with life-threatening burns; most recently, a new stem cell-based treatment to repair damage to the cornea (the surface of the eye) after an injury like a chemical burn, has received conditional approval in Europe.
But their flexibility offers hope for lots of illnesses and conditions including heart disease, MS and macular degeneration and clinical trials are progressing in all these areas. Chronic spinal cord injury is being researched with some promise, thanks to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, set up after actor Christopher Reeve was paralysed in a riding accident.
Crucially, for cases such as Schumacher, stem cells are also being explored for neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's and traumatic brain injuries like the one he suffered in a skiing accident in December 2013.
Head injuries are difficult to treat as brain damage cannot be undone and each case is different. Asked for comment by The Daily Telegraph, the hospital responded that they could neither confirm nor deny the presence of Schumacher.
However, if he is under the care of Menasch, it is likely he will have had stem cells delivered by an IV to the area of the body where it is felt they could work best - whether that is his head or heart.
CHRISTOPHE ENA/AP
Paris' Georges-Pompidou Hospital, where Michael Schumacher is reportedly a patient.
In a recent interview online, Menasch explained that stem cell treatment for cardiac conditions - his particular area of expertise - is in its infancy. "Nobody really knows how stem cells are working," he said. "They do not permanently transplant into the myocardium [the muscular tissue of the heart] - after a couple of days or weeks, they just disappear.
"But you still may have a functional benefit as during their transient stay in the heart," he explains in the Future Tech podcast, "as the cells release molecules into the tissue. The hypothesis is that the repair comes from the heart itself, stimulated by these molecules."
Should the stem cells have been intended for Schumacher's brain injury, research suggests that the treatment has potential. A University of Plymouth study published in the journal Cell Reports in June found that neural stem cells could be used to "wake up" and produce new neurons (nerve cells) and surrounding glial cells in the brain.
The research is in its infancy, says lead author Dr Claudia Barros, from the Institute of Translational and Stratified Medicine at the University of Plymouth, who acknowledges there is still a long way to go until such findings can be translated into human treatments.
"We are working to expand our findings, to bring us closer to the day when human neural stem cells can be controlled and efficiently used to facilitate brain damage repair, or even prevent brain cancer growth that is fuelled by stem-like cells," she says.
A Chinese study published last month in the journal Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience examined the current state of progress into the effects of stem cell therapy on traumatic brain injury. But the researchers from Zhejiang University, Hangzhou warned much more work was needed: "Although a large number of basic studies have confirmed that stem cells have good effect in the craniocerebral injury," they said, "the safety of stem cells, the route of injection, the time of injection and the specific mechanism are all factors that affect the clinical application of stem cells, and are the important research point in the future study."
PREMA TEAM
Mick Schumacher doesn't mind the comparisons with his seven-time F1 champion father Michael.
In the UK, some applications of stem cell medicine are already available privately, although tightly controlled by the Human Tissue Authority and not in the brain.
Simon Checkley, CEO at the Regenerative Clinic in Brighton, explains: "It is possible to get stem cells from sources outside your body, like the umbilical cord or Wharton's jelly [the vitreous humour in the eyeball], but in the UK we can only take stem cells from our own bodies.
"It is possible to get them donated, but it is safer to use your own."
In some countries, stem cells can then be manipulated in a laboratory but that is illegal in the UK, says Checkley. "There is a concern with cultured stem cells which have been bred in a Petri dish that they may keep proliferating after you transplant them into a body. That, having triggered their growth, you can't stop it and no one knows what might happen."
At the Regenerative Clinic, stem cells are taken from adipose fat, where they are plentiful, and then injected back into the area to be treated - mostly arthritic joints.
"We are seeing fantastic results," Checkley says, "with reduced pain and improved mobility for 80 per cent of patients." He is considering a clinical trial which could see the treatment pass through the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and become available on the NHS.
The therapy is still only four years old, he emphasises. "We have treated 1000 patients so far and around the world, it's about 40,000. We need longer-term studies."
LUCA BRUNO/AP
Michael Schumacher has not been seen in public since suffering a serious brain injury in a skiing accident nearly six years ago.
This type of stem cell treatment is also offered in the UK for post-menopause vaginal atrophy and stress incontinence, Checkley says, plus the genital skin condition lichen sclerosis. In all these cases, he says, the mechanism is the same: the stem cells are not replicating dead or dying cells but acting as signalling devices, alerting the body that this is an area where healing is needed.
For stem cells to work in more complex conditions, they would need to be manipulated, Checkley says. In cases of brain injury or disease, that would mean altering stem cells so that they could be targeted more precisely. But he believes the role would be similar: "The idea is they would go to the area of greatest damage and signal the body to regrow tissue there."
Cost would be a huge factor, he points out. A treatment for arthritis costs about 6000 (NZ$11,700) at the Regenerative Clinic but an IV-led treatment for brain injury with manipulated stem cells could cost up to 50,000 (NZ$98,000). But then what price recovery from a traumatic brain injury? Full recovery thanks to stem cells would be a prize beyond value.
Go here to read the rest:
Reported stem cell treatment could give hope to Michael Schumacher - Stuff.co.nz
- Spotlight on Cancer Stem Cell Research – Stem Cell Cafe [Last Updated On: May 22nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 22nd, 2011]
- Stem Cells and Controversy – Stem Cell Cafe [Last Updated On: June 28th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 28th, 2011]
- Lisa Ray asks you to join Stem Cell City – Stem Cell Cafe [Last Updated On: June 28th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 28th, 2011]
- Michael Savage...Embryonic Stell Cell Research...Part 2 [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2011]
- Michael Savage...Embryonic Stell Cell Research...Part 3 [Last Updated On: August 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 6th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Therapy at City of Hope: Building on the Promise [Last Updated On: August 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 8th, 2011]
- Obama on Embryonic Stem Cell Research [Last Updated On: August 9th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 9th, 2011]
- Medical Treatment by Stem Cells Myth or Reality? Episode 2 - Video [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2011]
- Stem Cells Regenerate New Finger! - Video [Last Updated On: October 17th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 17th, 2011]
- MS Patient After Stem Cell Therapy - Video [Last Updated On: October 19th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 19th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Transplant - Video [Last Updated On: October 19th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 19th, 2011]
- The EU and stem cell research - Video [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2011]
- Dr. Oz to Oprah and Michael J Fox: "The stem cell debate is dead." - Video [Last Updated On: December 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 8th, 2011]
- Politics: President Obama on Stem Cell Research - Video [Last Updated On: December 9th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 9th, 2011]
- Be still my beating stem cell heart - Video [Last Updated On: December 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 18th, 2011]
- Adult Stem Cell vs Embryonic Stem Cell Research Ethics Video - Video [Last Updated On: December 19th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 19th, 2011]
- A new hair loss treatment using stem cells ethically, safely and effectively. - Video [Last Updated On: December 31st, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 31st, 2011]
- U-M Would Have To Report Data On Stell Cell Research In New House Bill [Last Updated On: March 30th, 2012] [Originally Added On: March 30th, 2012]
- Stem Cells Restore Man's Vision | The art of cord blood banking [Last Updated On: January 4th, 2013] [Originally Added On: January 4th, 2013]
- Cancer Stem Cells – Video – Stem Cell Cafe [Last Updated On: January 7th, 2013] [Originally Added On: January 7th, 2013]
- Research and Markets: Stem Cell Therapy Market in Asia-Pacific to ... [Last Updated On: January 13th, 2013] [Originally Added On: January 13th, 2013]
- Genea Stem Cells (GSC): 25 new disease specific pluripotent stem ... [Last Updated On: January 14th, 2013] [Originally Added On: January 14th, 2013]
- Court lifts cloud over embryonic stem cells – Stem Cell Cafe [Last Updated On: January 16th, 2013] [Originally Added On: January 16th, 2013]
- Drug targets leukemia stem cells – Stem Cell Cafe [Last Updated On: January 18th, 2013] [Originally Added On: January 18th, 2013]
- CRF to sponsor 8th International Conference on ... - Stem Cell Cafe [Last Updated On: January 19th, 2013] [Originally Added On: January 19th, 2013]
- Bacteria Can Morph Host Cells Into Stem Cells – Stem Cell Cafe [Last Updated On: January 21st, 2013] [Originally Added On: January 21st, 2013]
- Springhill Medical Group-What is Stem Cell Therapy? - Stem Cell Cafe [Last Updated On: January 22nd, 2013] [Originally Added On: January 22nd, 2013]
- Stem Cells – A Medical Dictionary, Bibliography, And Annotated ... [Last Updated On: January 23rd, 2013] [Originally Added On: January 23rd, 2013]
- StemCells, Inc. to Present at Phacilitate Cell ... - Stem Cell Cafe [Last Updated On: January 24th, 2013] [Originally Added On: January 24th, 2013]
- Stem cells aid recovery from stroke – Stem Cell Cafe [Last Updated On: January 28th, 2013] [Originally Added On: January 28th, 2013]
- Adult Stem Cells Regrow cut off Finger! – Video – Stem Cell Cafe [Last Updated On: February 4th, 2013] [Originally Added On: February 4th, 2013]
- Stem cells is no hype but it is a better hope: Experts – Stem Cell Cafe [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2013] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2013]
- 3D printing with stem cells could lead to printable organs – Stem ... [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2013] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2013]
- Monell scientists identify taste stem cells on the tongue – Stem Cell ... [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2013] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2013]
- Scientists Say 3D Printing Can Create Stem Cells – Video – Stem ... [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2013] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2013]
- Fish stem cells could light the way to optical breakthroughs – Stem ... [Last Updated On: February 17th, 2013] [Originally Added On: February 17th, 2013]
- Signaling factors may be key to stem cells' healing abilities ... [Last Updated On: February 18th, 2013] [Originally Added On: February 18th, 2013]
- Regenerative medicine and Stem cells Partnering Terms and ... [Last Updated On: February 19th, 2013] [Originally Added On: February 19th, 2013]
- Market Research Report — Therapeutic ... - Stem Cell Cafe [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2013] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2013]
- Cell therapy: New mouse model promises to advance research on ... [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2013] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2013]
- Florida Hospital Pepin Heart Institute, USF partner ... - Stem Cell Cafe [Last Updated On: February 23rd, 2013] [Originally Added On: February 23rd, 2013]
- Schistosome stem cells could explain how the worms survive for so ... [Last Updated On: February 24th, 2013] [Originally Added On: February 24th, 2013]
- Egg cells from Stell Cells: A breakthrough in fertility research | Bionic ... [Last Updated On: February 26th, 2013] [Originally Added On: February 26th, 2013]
- BioMarin Licenses Factor VIII Gene Therapy ... - Stem Cell Cafe [Last Updated On: February 26th, 2013] [Originally Added On: February 26th, 2013]
- 'Holy Grail' of stem cell research discovered – Stem Cell Clinic ... [Last Updated On: March 1st, 2013] [Originally Added On: March 1st, 2013]
- OHSU Doernbecher Scientists First To Grow Liver Stem Cells In ... [Last Updated On: March 1st, 2013] [Originally Added On: March 1st, 2013]
- FRC's Dr. David Prentice Congratulates Kansas ... - Stem Cell Cafe [Last Updated On: March 5th, 2013] [Originally Added On: March 5th, 2013]
- UCLA researchers explore cutting edge of stem cells – Stem Cell Cafe [Last Updated On: March 10th, 2013] [Originally Added On: March 10th, 2013]
- Study finds stem cells in deer antler – Stem Cell Cafe [Last Updated On: March 21st, 2013] [Originally Added On: March 21st, 2013]
- IDIBELL signs agreement with Histocell to use ... - Stem Cell Cafe [Last Updated On: March 29th, 2013] [Originally Added On: March 29th, 2013]
- Stem Cell Therapy Market in Asia-Pacific to 2018 Market Research ... [Last Updated On: March 31st, 2013] [Originally Added On: March 31st, 2013]
- Researchers first to use common virus to 'fortify' adult stem cells ... [Last Updated On: April 2nd, 2013] [Originally Added On: April 2nd, 2013]
- Stem Cells Harvested From Human Gut For First Time - Stem Cell Cafe [Last Updated On: April 6th, 2013] [Originally Added On: April 6th, 2013]
- "Nanokicking" Stem Cells Offers Cheaper And Easier Way To Grow ... [Last Updated On: April 7th, 2013] [Originally Added On: April 7th, 2013]
- Adhesive force differences enable separation of stem cells to ... [Last Updated On: April 8th, 2013] [Originally Added On: April 8th, 2013]
- Embryonic-like stem cells collected from adults to grow bone – Stem ... [Last Updated On: April 8th, 2013] [Originally Added On: April 8th, 2013]
- Pro-lifers eye Kansas for top study of stem cells; no embryo use at ... [Last Updated On: April 12th, 2013] [Originally Added On: April 12th, 2013]
- StemCells, Inc. Enters Agreement to Receive $19.3 ... - Stem Cell Cafe [Last Updated On: April 12th, 2013] [Originally Added On: April 12th, 2013]
- 'Smart' stem cells repair damage from heart failure – Stem Cell Cafe [Last Updated On: April 12th, 2013] [Originally Added On: April 12th, 2013]
- First-in-humans study introduces next generation ... - Stem Cell Cafe [Last Updated On: April 13th, 2013] [Originally Added On: April 13th, 2013]
- Stem Cells Show Promise in Heart Failure Patients – Stem Cell Cafe [Last Updated On: April 15th, 2013] [Originally Added On: April 15th, 2013]
- IDIBELL signs agreement with Histocell to use … – Stem Cell Cafe ... [Last Updated On: April 16th, 2013] [Originally Added On: April 16th, 2013]
- Circuit Court OKs Funding of Embryonic Stem Cell Research ... [Last Updated On: April 16th, 2013] [Originally Added On: April 16th, 2013]
- Pros And Cons Of Stem Cell Research [Last Updated On: April 16th, 2013] [Originally Added On: April 16th, 2013]
- Adult stem cells offer ethical, effective cures, speakers say ... - First [Last Updated On: April 17th, 2013] [Originally Added On: April 17th, 2013]
- Preliminary Research, Led By Dr. Vincent Giampapa, Finds Aged ... [Last Updated On: April 17th, 2013] [Originally Added On: April 17th, 2013]
- Voices Against Brain Cancer Comments on New Study Claiming Fat ... [Last Updated On: April 20th, 2013] [Originally Added On: April 20th, 2013]
- UCLA Researchers Develop New Method for Purifying Stem Cells ... [Last Updated On: April 23rd, 2013] [Originally Added On: April 23rd, 2013]
- Scientist identifies protein molecule used to ... - Stem Cell Cafe [Last Updated On: April 25th, 2013] [Originally Added On: April 25th, 2013]
- Human Stem Cells Injected In Mice Restore Memory, Learning ... [Last Updated On: April 25th, 2013] [Originally Added On: April 25th, 2013]
- Explore the Forefront of iPS Cell Research ... - Stem Cell Cafe [Last Updated On: April 26th, 2013] [Originally Added On: April 26th, 2013]
- Stem Cell Therapy Market in Asia-Pacific to 2018 ... [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2013] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2013]
- Dr. Farshid Guilak: Can stem cells help those with arthritis? – Stem ... [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2013] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2013]
- AKC Canine Health Foundation Releases Webinar ... - Stem Cell Cafe [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2013] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2013]
- German stem cells give new life to cancer patient in Gujarat – Stem ... [Last Updated On: April 29th, 2013] [Originally Added On: April 29th, 2013]
- Stem Cell Therapy Market in Asia-Pacific to 2018 ... - Stem Cell Cafe [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2013] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2013]
- Study confirms that mesenchymal stem cells may help treat cancer ... [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2013] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2013]
- Adults lack stem cells for making new eggs, research shows – Stem ... [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2013] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2013]
- Stemedica Issued U.S. Patent For Ectodermal Stem Cells – Stem ... [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2013] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2013]
- Clarifying the effect of stem cell therapy on cancer – Stem Cell Cafe [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2013] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2013]