B+ve to A+ve, he beats thalassemia

Courtesy by: timesofindia

AHMEDABAD: Exactly 49 days ago, Harshil Nanda was a severely ill thalassemic patient with B positive blood group. Today, he is a healthy infant with A positive blood group and a confirmed evidence of how stem cell transplant can cure thalassemia.

The change in his blood group is in fact proof that Harshil’s procedure, the country’s second stem cell transplant from umbilical cord blood of a stranger child received from a private bank, has worked.

Harshil’s rapid recovery has cheered stem cell transplant surgeons at Gujarat Cancer Research Institute (GCRI) where the first such transplant was performed nearly a year ago.

“This means that unrelated umbilical stem cell transplant can be termed as an established treatment. As they say, first success could be luck but second is science,” said director of bone marrow transplant department at GCRI Dr Sandip A Shah. The transplant was assisted by Dr Kinnari Patel and Dr Kamlesh Shah.

The first success story was of Rishi, a thalassemic major child from Kutch, who was cured by umbilical cord stem cells transplanted from an unrelated donor as he did not have siblings. Harshil is also the only child of his parents.

“While it took three months in Rishi for the donor blood cells to completely take over and change his blood group, Harshil has recovered within two months,” said Dr Shah.

For children without siblings and suffering from thalassemia, aplastic anaemia and similar blood problems, this is good news. The success rate of such transplants is 70 per cent.

Doctors are now poised to perform a third unrelated umbilical cord stem cell transplant. “The third patient is a girl called Zeel, who has got Rs 10 lakh as donation from Bollywood star Ajay Devgan to perform the transplant,” said Dr Shah.

Cryobanks to step up awareness on stem cell banking

Courtesy by: business-standard.com

Cryobanks International India, a leader in umbilical cord blood stem cell banking, aims to expand its network in Orissa by involving more families in the state for storage of umbilical cord blood.

Around 200 families in the state have stored umbilical cord blood so far and the company expects this number to grow as it has lined up awareness programmes on this concept in different parts of Orissa.

Phagun Shah, medical advisor, Cryobanks International India said, “The people of Orissa have shown very keen interest in the concept of umbilical cord blood banking and hence we have seen fast growth in 2008. We look forward to developing more awareness on this subject in different parts of the state and expect more enrolments in 2009-10.”

“The umbilical cord blood is a rich source of stem cells and the bank will store them from any willing family for a certain fee. These cells will be vital in saving the life of a person suffering from leukemia, thalassemia, blood cancer and bone marrow transplant”, added Shah.

The people who opt for umbilical cord blood stem cell banking would have to pay Rs 75,000 for a storage duration of 21 years. The amount can be paid either upfront or through equated monthly installments (EMIs).

Cord blood banking is a process of preserving extra blood in the umbilical cord that is attached from the mother’s womb to the baby. The blood in the umbilical cord is rich in stem cells that can be restored and replenished for future use of the baby and his immediate family.

Ghazi Aasim, marketing head, Cryobanks International India said, “With the availability of cord stem cells, one is free from the hassle of arranging a matching bone marrow donor.

Cord blood stem cell transplantation cures minor girl

Courtesy by: samaylive

Chennai, Sept 16 An eight-year-old girl suffering from Thalassemia has been cured by ‘cord blood stem cell transplantation’ at a hospital here.

The doctors used her younger brother’s cord blood stem cells for transplantation and the hospital authorities claimed it was the first time this method was practised.

Thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder in which the body makes an abnormal form of hemoglobin that results in excessive destruction of these cells and causes severe anaemia that can occur months after the birth. The patient then has to undergo monthly blood transfusion.

Mayur Abhaya, president and executive director of LifeCell International, a leading stem cell bank, told reporters here that Thamirabhurani was suffering from Thalassemia for the last six and a half years.

She went through painful blood transfusion and medication until the stem cell Cord blood stem cell transplantation cures minor girl, he said.

“The stem cell transplantation was recently done by Dr Revathi Raj at Apollo Hospital and it helped the girl get rid of Thalassemia,” he said, adding doctors had recommended that the patient start on iron reducing medication initially.

“The doctors then asked her parents to consider another pregnancy and go for umbilical cord blood stem cell banking”, he added.

Raj said a pre-natal test confirmed that the foetus was not affected with Thalaseemia.

Stem cell bank to start in July next year

Courtesy by: thepeninsulaqatar

DOHA: Bringing renewed hope in the treatment of various medical conditions in the Eastern Mediterranean region, the Virgin Health Bank (VHB)-QSTP, will start its operations here in July 2010. The bank which collects, processes and stores cord blood, taken from the umbilical cord of newborns, was launched here in March as a partnership between Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP) and the UK-based VHB.

With the bank headquarters opening here, Qatar will be at the forefront of using regenerative medicine.

“We aim to transform lives through the use of cord blood stem cells in the region. This will be by providing information and championing new standards of high quality ethical banking services,” said Andrew Glen, Commercial Director, VHB-QSTP.

The stem cells, taken from the blood in the umbilical cord, can renew themselves through cell division and differentiating into specialised cell types. Today, 85 diseases can be treated using cord blood. Sickle cell anemia and thalassemia can be completely cured using cell therapy. The facility opening here will help spur cell therapy for various disorders including genetic ones.

“The bank will open as a private one, where families can pay to store the cord blood. This is the major step before venturing into public banking which can ensure that the blood stored can be utilised for community needs. Talks are in progress for public banking.”

When public banking starts, VHB-QSTP will play a major role in Qatar’s much coveted national public health programme to create the world’s first comprehensive source of stem cells for the Middle Eastern population and make it easier to source a matched tissue typed stem cell unit when a transplant is needed.

The VHB project has already commenced in Qatar as a pilot programme with over a dozen cord blood samples being cryogenically stored in the UK. “With the cooperation of Ministry of Interior and Qatar Airways, we have been able to study the various issues in transportation of the samples to UK. To get the best result out of the cells, every thing from collecting to temperature and transportation time matters,” said Dr Magnus Nicolson.

However, by 2010, the bank will have a storage and processing unit in Qatar.

The VHB presence here will catalyse the national health programme which calls for a public bank, as people will get to know the benefits.

The bank has been conducting training for health professionals in Qatar on the management, collection and preservation of the cord blood as part of the public health programme.

Need to tap potential of wonder stem cells

Courtesy by: timesofindia

VARANASI: Stem cells are the wonder cells and there is a growing need to spread awareness about the importance of these cells to realise their

potential, says Dr CV Nerikar. Nerikar is the former blood transfusion officer, Nagpur Medical College, and the chief executive officer of the country’s only stem cell bank. He was speaking at a continuing medical education (CME) programme in the city on Sunday evening.

The programme was organised by Varanasi Obstetrics and Gynaecologists Society (VOGSI). As he stressed on the need to promote stem cell banking in the country, its advantages were also emphasised. “These cells are preserved at very low temperature (-196 degree Celsius) and can be used for nearly 130 years (two generations),” he said on the occasion.

“The stem cells have inherent capacity to multiply and regenerate into all specialised cells of the body and could be used in multiple life threatening diseases, including genetic disorders,” informed Dr Neriker. Stem cell transplant has successfully treated complicated and life threatening diseases including blood cancer (acute leukemia), thalassemia, blood disorders and other immune deficiencies. “Currently, stem cell research is also going on a number of diseases including spinal cord injury, cardiac diseases, diabetes and stroke,” he added.

He also said the umbilical cord blood is the easiest source of retrieving stem cells and the blood that is usually thrown as wastage should be preserved for complex diseases, especially for treating genetic disorders in the family.

President, VOGSI, Dr Amod Prakash and other senior obstetricians and gynaecologists were also present on the occasion.

Cord blood bank to be set up in Ahmedabad

Courtesy by: indianexpress.com

A new collaboration between StemCyte Inc. of the US and Apollo Hospital Enterprises Ltd. now promises to bring about a revolution in the treatment about 70 diseases by introducing the ‘plasma depletion’ technology in India.

A Memorandum of Understanding between the two companies was signed at the Vibrant Gujarat Summit and the collaboration has resulted into StemCyte India Therapeutics Pvt. Ltd. This cord blood bank will be located in Ahmedabad and will have the patented technique of processing and storage of StemCyte Inc., announced the officials of the StemCyte on Thursday.

The technology of collecting high volume of stem cells called ‘plasma depletion’ which helps in successful therapeutic applications of umbilical cord stem cells can be used in the treatment of 70 different diseases like leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma, thalassemia, sickle cell anaemia, fanconi anaemia and auto immune deficiency diseases. These diseases have been successfully treated with umbilical cord stem cells. The umbilical cord blood stem cells are fast emerging as a prime source of stem cells in the field of regenerative medicine, repair of injured tissues, nerves and organs.

According to Tushar Dalal, president of StemCyte India, the company plans to build 20,000 diverse units to help treat critically ill patients in India and abroad. He said, “Strategically situated in Gujarat, which has the highest frequency of Thalassemia patients, StemCyte India will spread the ray of hope among patients of this life threatening disease.”

While StemCyte has earlier signed two research and licensing agreements for human umbilical cord blood stem cell treatment of spinal cord injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, and other problems of the central nervous system, these research programs will be conducted in India by Apollo Hospitals and Cadila Pharmaceuticals here as well.

Cyrobanks aims to collect 20,000 samples nationally in a year

Courtesy by: indopia.in

Kochi , July 30 Cryobanks International India, a umbilical cord blood stem cell banking company, has set itself a target of collecting 20,000 samples nationally within a year, the company CEO C V Nerikar said today.
” Already 10,000 samples have been collected so far and another 10,000 would be collected in a year&aposs time,”he told reporters here.

The umbilical cord blood is a rich source of stem cells and the bank would help store them from any willing family for a certain fee, he said, adding that the cells would be vital in saving the lives of those suffering from leukaemia, thalassemia, blood cancer and those who need a bone marrow transplant.

The company started operations in Kerala in 2008,opening a branch at Thiruvananthapuram. It now also operates from Kochi , Thrissur and Kottayam. A unit in Kozhikode is also likely to come up.

At present there are 80 centres in India, from which 10,000 samples have been collected in the last two years, he said, adding that the company now has a presence in Tier II and Tier III cities and hopes to have centres in rural areas in a couple of years.

Researchers Discover New Source of Stem Cells

Courtesy by: voanews.com

A new study reveals the human placenta, the birthsack that nourishes the fetus in the uterus before it is born, could be an important source of stem cells for curing leukemia, sickle cell disease and other blood-related disorders.

Scientists at Children’s Hospital in Oakland, California, obtained discarded placentas from consenting women who had had cesarean sections, or surgeries to remove their newborns before birth.

They siphoned off the blood that circulates throughout the placenta and then extracted stem cells or master cells that can be coaxed with hormones to grow into any kind of tissue in the body. Scientists have been looking for new sources of stem cells because they have the potential to cure a number of diseases, including diabetes.

But in the case of sickle cell disease or thalassemia, a disorder that primarily strikes people of Mediterranean descent, the placental stem cells are already programmed to produce fresh blood after they are infused into patients.

Senior scientist Frans Kuypers at Children’s Hospital in Oakland, along with Vladimir Serikov, says the research involving placental stem cells was an attempt to prove that they have the potential to cure blood disorders.

“So, yes they are there, and that’s all nice. But the more important part is we can get them out,” said Kuypers. “We can get many of them out and we can get them out in a viable form. And can show that these cells are able to transplant and able to engraft. And the impact of that is that we will be able to provide a resource for stem cells to a much larger patient population.”

Physicians at the Children’s Hospital and Research Center in Oakland have taken stem cells from the umbilical cord blood of newborns to cure their older siblings of blood-related disorders.

But researchers say there aren’t enough of these valuable stem cells in a unit of cord blood to meet the needs of those with serious blood diseases, such as leukemia and sickle cell anemia.  On the other hand, they say a unit of placental blood contains five times as many stem cells as cord blood.

Although a bone marrow transplant can provide an alternative treatment, many patients cannot find a matching donor.

Researchers say one big advantage of stem cells from placentas is that they are less likely to trigger the strong immune system response as stem cells from bone marrow – a response that can lead to rejection.

Kuypers says placental stem cells have a number of other advantages.

“These cells, they are absolutely not controversial in contrast to embryonic stem cells because these are cells that nobody would have a problem with using those cells in any shape or form, which is not necessarily the case with embryonic stem cells,” he said. “And more importantly to date, nobody has been cured with an embryonic stem cell and we have been curing people with cord blood-derived stem cells for awhile now. And this just opens up a much bigger opportunity for patients who need it.”

Despite the promise of placental stem cells, their widespread use is probably several years away. Children’s Hospital is now seeking funds to conduct clinical trials in humans.

Thalassemia cured using cord blood stem cells

Courtesy by: hindu.com

Cord blood and bone marrow stem cells with a perfect tissue match from her one-year-old brother were used for transplantation

Bond strengthened: Eight-year-old Thamirabharuni, holding her brother who donated the stem cells, did not suffer from rejection or graft versus host disease as the tissue match was perfect.

Eight-year-old Thamirabharuni and her one-year-old brother Pugazhendhi share a special kind of bond not commonly seen among siblings. Thanks to her brother, Thamirabharuni no longer suffers from thalassemia disease.

The stem cells transplanted in March helped her get rid of thalassemia. And hundred days after the procedure, one can safely say that her disease has been cured.

The stem cells that were transplanted came from two different sources — her brother’s cord blood, which was harvested during the time of his birth, and his bone marrow. Stem cells from the bone marrow had to be transplanted as there was insufficient number of stem cells in Pugazhendhi’s cord blood.

In the absence of cord blood stem cells, about 200 ml of bone marrow would have been required. It is difficult to get this quantity of bone marrow from a nine-month-old baby.

The cord blood was collected by and stored at Chennai based LifeCell International Pvt. Ltd., a private cord blood bank.

Risk of infection

So is it all over? “One has to be still careful. There is a risk of infection till the end of the first year [after transplantation],” said Dr. Revathy Raj, Consultant Paediatric Haemato Oncologist, Apollo Speciality Hospital, Chennai. Dr. Raj had done the transplantation for Thamirabharuni and two other cord blood transplantations for thalassemia before this.

The fact that patients are on immuno suppressing drugs for one year makes them vulnerable to infections. The risk of rejection of the transplanted stem cells, and the graft versus host disease (GVHD) reduce with time.

Thalassemia arises when red blood corpuscles (RBC) production is defective. A person suffers from the disease only when he inherits a defective gene from both parents. He becomes a carrier when he inherits a defective gene from only one parent. The diseased person has to undergo blood transfusion once every month for the rest of his life.

Gold standard

Though stem cells separated from bone marrow have been used for more than 30 years to treat thalassemia, and is a gold standard in treating the disease, cord blood stem cells are slowly becoming an attractive alternative.

Contrary to what is projected by some cord blood banks, doctors are very reluctant to use cord blood stem cells to treat thalassemia in the absence of a full tissue match.

Perfect match

“We need a 6/6 [perfect match] for thalassemia. Even a 5/6 match is not sufficient,” asserted Dr. Raj. And doctors refrain from using stem cells from unrelated donors, even if there is a perfect match.

Apart from infections, there are two major challenges from transplantation — graft versus host disease (GVHD) and rejection of the donated stem cells. “There is a 30 per cent chance of having graft versus host disease even when it is from a fully matched related (sibling) donor.” This risk increases to 50 per cent when it is from an unrelated donor, even if there is 6/6 tissue match.

Rejection rate becomes an issue even when there is a perfect tissue match. According to her, in the case of thalassemia, the rejection rate can be up to 20 per cent even with related donors, and up to 40 per cent in the case of unrelated donors.

But why should rejection and GVHD be an issue at all when there is a perfect 6/6 tissue match, and why should it be so high when stem cells are from unrelated donors?

Minor HLAs not tested

“There are several minor HLA antigens that are not tested. So if we use stem cells from people belonging to some other ethnic background, there are greater chances of [minor] HLA differences,” Dr. Raj stressed. “And this causes rejection and GVHD.”

In general, greater the tissue match and higher the stem cell count in cord blood, lesser are the chances of rejection and GVHD.

“So why undertake procedures that are risky when thalassemia can be treated through monthly transfusions,” she noted.

Private banking of cord blood for use by the family therefore becomes important when one of the siblings is suffering from a disease that can be cured using it.

Case for public banking

Despite the risk of rejection and GVHD, a less than perfect sample can be used to treat children suffering from life threatening diseases such as leukaemia and aplastic anaemia. This is where public cord blood banking gains significance.

There is a strong case for promoting public banks as depending solely on bone marrow samples will not be wise.

Even if a perfectly matched bone marrow donor is found, chances are that the person may no longer be interested in donating.

Collecting cord blood samples is easy, the number of samples that can be banked is limited only by resources, and samples can be made available at very short notice.

Placentas may offer richer source for stem cells

Courtesy by: CTV.ca

CTV.ca News Staff

Researchers in the U.S. say they may have found a new and better source for harvesting stem cells: the placentas that are often discarded after birth.

The research from Children’s Hospital & Research Center Oakland found there are far more stem cells in placentas than in umbilical cord blood, the traditional source for stem cells, and they can be safely extracted for transplantation.

“Yes, the stem cells are there; yes, they are viable; and yes, we can get them out,” declared Dr. Frans Kuypers, one of the scientists who led the research with fellow scientist Vladimir Serikov.

The study was conducted using placentas from healthy women undergoing elective Caesarean section. It will be the feature story in the July 2009 issue of Experimental Biology and Medicine.

The scientists said it is highly likely the cells could be used in therapies to cure chronic blood-related disorders such as sickle cell disease, thalassemia, and leukemia.

One of the limits of umbilical cord blood is that the stem cells it contains are few in number. That makes the likelihood that they can be used to cure a blood disorder in adults fairly slim. Researchers hope that stem cells from the placenta will provide a bigger supply.

Kuypers explained that even when a patient receives a cord blood transplant, there may not be enough stem cells in the umbilical cord to successfully treat their disorder.

“The greater supply of stem cells in placentas will likely increase the chance that an HLA (human leukocyte antigen) matched unit of stem cells engrafts, making stem cell transplants available to more people. The more stem cells, the bigger the chance of success,” said Kuypers.

Kuypers and Serikov have developed a patent-pending method that will allow the freezing of placentas to store them in a way that allows them to later be defrosted and to enable the extraction of viable stem cells. The method will make it possible for companies to gather, ship and store placentas in a central location.

“We’re looking for a partnership with industry to get placenta-derived stem cells in large quantities to the clinic,” said Kuypers in a statement.

He added that while more research is needed to explore the maximum potential of this latest discovery, he is optimistic his work will lead to cures.

“Someday, we will be able to save a lot more kids and adults from these horrific blood disorders.”