StemCell Therapy

CLEMSON, S.C. The cells Mike Kents own cells, the donated stem cells now coursing through his stricken brothers body are working just fine. Thats what they tell him. His family and the doctors are careful to shield Mike, just 21 years old, from most of the bad news regarding Matts battle with Hodgkins lymphoma and lately there has been plenty of it. But they always make sure to tell him: Your cells are doing great.

It can mess with your head, being a stem-cell donor to your own brother. If something goes wrong, it is only natural to wonder if it was your fault. Were your cells bad? And Mike Kent, a 2009 Washington Post All-Met selection at West Springfield High, has enough on his plate right now not just Matts three-year fight with cancer, but also his own baseball career at Clemson to be saddled with all that guilt. Clemson opens play in the NCAA regionals at Columbia, S.C., on Friday.

(Family photo) - Mike Kent, right, poses with his brother, Matt, when Mike was a high school senior and a pitcher for the West Springfield, Va, baseball team.

Because now, Matts liver is failing, the veins breaking down from the high doses of chemotherapy and radiation. He floats in and out of consciousness in the intensive-care unit at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, unaware of his surroundings.

Ill be honest: Ive asked them, Is he going to survive this? said Susan Kent, Matt and Mikes mother, a look of sheer resolve on her face. Of course, the doctors wont answer.

Such an awkward spot for a mother who had raised two boys on her own. One of them, a college sophomore, is playing out his dream, preparing to pitch in college baseballs national championship tournament, his life spread out before him. The other son, 26 years old and a late-bloomer who was just starting to get his life in order before the diagnosis, is fighting for his life.

How do you handle such a fate? You play up the positives, thats how. You visit Matt in the hospital Matt being the one who taught Mike the game of baseball, in the absence of a father and you tell him, in great detail, about all of Mikes solid outings at Clemson: the scoreless relief appearances, the saves. And you spare him the gory details about the ugly ones the three-run homers, the bases-loaded walks, the losses.

And you give Mike the barest of details about Matts setbacks: There are some complications. Some side effects. But while Mike knows most of the more pertinent information the liver failure, the ICU you emphasize what is important, the thing Mike needs to know: Your cells are doing great.

Throwing extra innings

The injections, the doctors told Mike, would make him feel like he had the flu. The drug, Neupogen, was being given in eight doses, spread over four days to produce and stimulate white blood cells in his body in preparation for the stem cell transplant. One thing he shouldnt try to do, they told him, was play baseball.

See the original post here:
NCAA baseball: Mike Kent of Clemson’s biggest save came away from the diamond

ScienceDaily (May 31, 2012) An immune-system receptor plays an unexpected but crucially important role in keeping stem cells from differentiating and in helping blood cancer cells grow, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center report today in the journal Nature.

"Cancer cells grow rapidly in part because they fail to differentiate into mature cells. Drugs that induce differentiation can be used to treat cancers," said Dr. Chengcheng "Alec" Zhang, assistant professor in UT Southwestern's departments of physiology and developmental biology. "Our research identified a protein receptor on cancer cells that inhibits differentiation, and knowing the identity of this protein should facilitate the development of new drugs to treat cancers."

The family of proteins investigated in the study could help open a new field of biology integrating immunology with stem cell and cancer research, he added.

"The receptor we identified turned out to be a protein called a classical immune inhibitory receptor, which is known to maintain stemness of normal adult stem cells and to be important in the development of leukemia," he said.

Stemness refers to the blood stem cells' potential to develop into a range of different kinds of cells as needed, for instance to replenish red blood cells lost to bleeding or to produce more white blood cells to fight off infection. Once stem cells differentiate into adult cells, they cannot go back to being stem cells. Current thinking is that the body has a finite number of stem cells and it is best to avoid depleting them, Dr. Zhang explained.

Prior to this study, no high-affinity receptors had been identified for the family of seven proteins called the human angiopoetic-like proteins. These seven proteins are known to be involved in inflammation, supporting the activity of stem cells, breaking down fats in the blood, and growing new blood vessels to nourish tumors. Because the receptor to which these proteins bind had not been identified, the angiopoetic-like proteins were referred to as "orphans," he said.

The researchers found that the human immune-inhibitory receptor LILRB2 and a corresponding receptor on the surface of mouse cells bind to several of the angiopoetic-like proteins. Further studies, Dr. Zhang said, showed that two of the seven family members bind particularly well to the LILRB2 receptor and that binding exerts an inhibitory effect on the cell, similar to a car's brakes.

In the case of stem cells, inhibition keeps them in their stem state. They retain their potential to mature into all kinds of blood cells as needed but they don't use up their energy differentiating into mature cells. That inhibition helps stem cells maintain their potential to create new stem cells because in addition to differentiation, self-renewal is the cells' other major activity, Dr. Zhang said. He stressed that the inhibition doesn't cause them to create new stem cells but does preserve their potential to do so.

In future research, the scientists hope to find subtle differences between stem cells and leukemia cells that will identify treatments to block the receptors' action only in leukemia.

Other UT Southwestern researchers involved in the study from the departments of physiology and developmental biology include postdoctoral researchers Dr. ChangHao Cui, Dr. Xiaoli Chen, Dr. Chaozheng Zhang, Dr. HoangDinh Huynh, and Dr. Xunlei Kang; senior research associates Robert Silvany and Jiyuan Li; and graduate student Xuan Wan. Researchers from the department of immunology include former technician Alberto Puig Cant and Dr. E. Sally Ward, professor of immunology.

Visit link:
Mechanism that maintains stem cells readiness identified

Researchers led by Helenice Gobbi from the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Brazil report in Pathology that ALDH1 is frequently expressed in triple-negative breast cancer, and that its expression is linked to better outcome. The researchers examined the expression in ALDH1 as well as EZH2 both of which are cancer stem cell-related markers in 140 cases of triple negative breast cancer, and correlated it to clinicopathological features and disease outcome. "Our results showed that tumour cell expression of ALDH1 did not correlate with nodal status, outcome, or expression of basal markers," the researchers write. "Nonetheless, stromal expression of ALDH1 was significantly associated with better overall survival in our triple negative cohort."

Also in Pathology, the University of Western Australia's Benhur Amanuel and his colleagues examine the prevalence of BRAF p.Val600Glu and p.Val600Lys mutations in metastatic melanoma patients from an area with a high incidence of the disease. They performed dideoxy sequencing and fluorescent single-strand conformation analysis and found that the overall incidence of BRAF mutation in their cohort was similar to other studies, but that the frequency of p.Val600Lys mutations was higher. "The broad range of reported frequencies of BRAF p.Val600Glu and p.Val600Lys mutations and the observation that patients with the p.Val600Lys mutation were significantly older than those with p.Val600Glu mutation is intriguing," the researchers add. "These genetic aberrations may be linked to different tumour phenotypes, including possible association of the primary tumours with distinct precursor lesions."

View original post here:
This Week in Pathology

30-05-2012 07:23 write to:

Go here to read the rest:
Stem Cell Therapy for Parkinson's Patient.flv - Video

NEW YORK, May 31, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NeoStem, Inc. (NYSE Amex:NBS) ("NeoStem" or the "Company"), an international biopharmaceutical company focused on cell based therapies, announced today that Company management will present at six conferences in June.

International Society for Cellular Therapy Annual Meeting

National Investment Banking Association Conference

International Society for Stem Cell Research 10th Annual Meeting

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) International Conference

Alliance for Regenerative Medicine -- Clinical Outlooks for Regenerative Medicine 2012

Marcum's Inaugural MicroCap Conference

About NeoStem, Inc.

NeoStem, Inc. ("NeoStem") is a leader in the development and manufacture of cell therapies. NeoStem has a strategic combination of revenues, including that which is derived from the contract manufacturing services performed by Progenitor Cell Therapy, LLC, a NeoStem company. That manufacturing base is one of the few cGMP facilities available for contracting in the burgeoning cell therapy industry, and it is the combination of PCT's core expertise in manufacturing and NeoStem's extensive research capabilities that positions the company as a leader in cell therapy development. Amorcyte, LLC, also a NeoStem company, is developing a cell therapy for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Amorcyte's lead compound, AMR-001, represents NeoStem's most clinically advanced therapeutic and is enrolling patients in a Phase 2 trial for the preservation of heart function after a heart attack. Amorcyte expects to begin a Phase 1 clinical trial in 2012/2013 for AMR-001 for the treatment of patients with congestive heart failure. Athelos Corporation, also a NeoStem company, is developing a T-cell therapy for a range of autoimmune conditions with its partner Becton-Dickinson. NeoStem's pre-clinical assets include its VSEL(TM) Technology platform for regenerative medicine, which NeoStem believes to be an endogenous, pluripotent, non-embryonic stem cell that has the potential to change the paradigm of cell therapy as we know it today.

For more information on NeoStem, please visit http://www.neostem.com.

See the original post here:
NeoStem to Present at Six Conferences in June

Researchers trace the source of recurring blood cancers to a few slowly dividing cancer stem cells.

By Cristina Luiggi | May 31, 2012

Brain cancer stem cellsWellcome Images

Why cancer comes back in some patients after chemotherapy has beaten it into remission has been a matter of debate for oncologists. In a new study published in Blood this week, researchers at The Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, found that in certain blood cancers, slowly-dividing cancer stem cells that are impervious to the actions of chemotherapywhich commonly target fast-dividing cellsare the source for future recurring cancers.

Led by computational biologist Ehud Shapiro, the researchers reconstructed lineage trees of cells sampled from patients with newly diagnosed leukemia and from patients in which leukemia had returned. They found that in some cases, the source of the recurring cancer cells were not rapidly dividing cancer cells that had dodged chemotherapy, but the slowly-dividing stem cells at the root of the tree.

We know that in many cases, chemotherapy alone is not able to cure leukemia, Shapiro said in a press release. Our results suggest that to completely eliminate it, we must look for a treatment that will not only eliminate the rapidly dividing cells, but also target the cancer stem cells that are resistant to conventional treatment.

Read the original:
Why Some Cancers Come Back

An immune-system receptor plays an unexpected but crucially important role in keeping stem cells from differentiating and in helping blood cancer cells grow, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center report today in the journal Nature.

"Cancer cells grow rapidly in part because they fail to differentiate into mature cells. Drugs that induce differentiation can be used to treat cancers," said Dr. Chengcheng "Alec" Zhang, assistant professor in UT Southwestern's departments of physiology and developmental biology. "Our research identified a protein receptor on cancer cells that induces differentiation, and knowing the identity of this protein should facilitate the development of new drugs to treat cancers."

The family of proteins investigated in the study could help open a new field of biology integrating immunology with stem cell and cancer research, he added.

"The receptor we identified turned out to be a protein called a classical immune inhibitory receptor, which is known to maintain stemness of normal adult stem cells and to be important in the development of leukemia," he said.

Stemness refers to the blood stem cells' potential to develop into a range of different kinds of cells as needed, for instance to replenish red blood cells lost to bleeding or to produce more white blood cells to fight off infection. Once stem cells differentiate into adult cells, they cannot go back to being stem cells. Current thinking is that the body has a finite number of stem cells and it is best to avoid depleting them, Dr. Zhang explained.

Prior to this study, no high-affinity receptors had been identified for the family of seven proteins called the human angiopoetic-like proteins. These seven proteins are known to be involved in inflammation, supporting the activity of stem cells, breaking down fats in the blood, and growing new blood vessels to nourish tumors. Because the receptor to which these proteins bind had not been identified, the angiopoetic-like proteins were referred to as "orphans," he said.

The researchers found that the human immune-inhibitory receptor LILRB2 and a corresponding receptor on the surface of mouse cells bind to several of the angiopoetic-like proteins. Further studies, Dr. Zhang said, showed that two of the seven family members bind particularly well to the LILRB2 receptor and that binding exerts an inhibitory effect on the cell, similar to a car's brakes.

In the case of stem cells, inhibition keeps them in their stem state. They retain their potential to mature into all kinds of blood cells as needed but they don't use up their energy differentiating into mature cells. That inhibition helps stem cells maintain their potential to create new stem cells because in addition to differentiation, self-renewal is the cells' other major activity, Dr. Zhang said. He stressed that the inhibition doesn't cause them to create new stem cells but does preserve their potential to do so.

In future research, the scientists hope to find subtle differences between stem cells and leukemia cells that will identify treatments to block the receptors' action only in leukemia.

Journal reference: Nature

Read more from the original source:
Researchers identify mechanism that maintains stem cells readiness

Newswise DALLAS May 31, 2012 An immune-system receptor plays an unexpected but crucially important role in keeping stem cells from differentiating and in helping blood cancer cells grow, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center report today in the journal Nature.

Cancer cells grow rapidly in part because they fail to differentiate into mature cells. Drugs that induce differentiation can be used to treat cancers, said Dr. Chengcheng Alec Zhang, assistant professor in UT Southwesterns departments of physiology and developmental biology. Our research identified a protein receptor on cancer cells that induces differentiation, and knowing the identity of this protein should facilitate the development of new drugs to treat cancers.

The family of proteins investigated in the study could help open a new field of biology integrating immunology with stem cell and cancer research, he added.

The receptor we identified turned out to be a protein called a classical immune inhibitory receptor, which is known to maintain stemness of normal adult stem cells and to be important in the development of leukemia, he said.

Stemness refers to the blood stem cells potential to develop into a range of different kinds of cells as needed, for instance to replenish red blood cells lost to bleeding or to produce more white blood cells to fight off infection. Once stem cells differentiate into adult cells, they cannot go back to being stem cells. Current thinking is that the body has a finite number of stem cells and it is best to avoid depleting them, Dr. Zhang explained.

Prior to this study, no high-affinity receptors had been identified for the family of seven proteins called the human angiopoetic-like proteins. These seven proteins are known to be involved in inflammation, supporting the activity of stem cells, breaking down fats in the blood, and growing new blood vessels to nourish tumors. Because the receptor to which these proteins bind had not been identified, the angiopoetic-like proteins were referred to as orphans, he said.

The researchers found that the human immune-inhibitory receptor LILRB2 and a corresponding receptor on the surface of mouse cells bind to several of the angiopoetic-like proteins. Further studies, Dr. Zhang said, showed that two of the seven family members bind particularly well to the LILRB2 receptor and that binding exerts an inhibitory effect on the cell, similar to a cars brakes.

In the case of stem cells, inhibition keeps them in their stem state. They retain their potential to mature into all kinds of blood cells as needed but they dont use up their energy differentiating into mature cells. That inhibition helps stem cells maintain their potential to create new stem cells because in addition to differentiation, self-renewal is the cells other major activity, Dr. Zhang said. He stressed that the inhibition doesnt cause them to create new stem cells but does preserve their potential to do so.

In future research, the scientists hope to find subtle differences between stem cells and leukemia cells that will identify treatments to block the receptors action only in leukemia.

Other UT Southwestern researchers involved in the study from the departments of physiology and developmental biology include postdoctoral researchers Dr. ChangHao Cui, Dr. Xiaoli Chen, Dr. Chaozheng Zhang, Dr. HoangDinh Huynh, and Dr. Xunlei Kang; senior research associates Robert Silvany and Jiyuan Li; and graduate student Xuan Wan. Researchers from the department of immunology include former technician Alberto Puig Cant and Dr. E. Sally Ward, professor of immunology.

Excerpt from:
Researchers Identify Mechanism That Maintains Stem Cells Readiness, Helps Leukemia Cells Growth

Anda Berada di Sini : Dunia Berita

31 Mei, 2012 12:03 PM

Over 70,000 Orphans In China Receive Free Insurance For Severe Illnesses

BEIJING, May 31 (Bernama) -- More than 70,000 orphans in China have been given free insurance contracts that cover the costs of treating 12 critical illnesses as a joint insurance programme supported by the government and a charity organisation continues to expand.

The 12 major illnesses covered include malignant tumors, illnesses requiring organ or stem cell transplants, acute kidney failure, aplastic anemia, acute hepatitis and infantile paralysis, among others.

The most recent beneficiaries are from Beijing, Qinghai, Tianjin, Henan, Shanxi and the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, Xinhua news agency reported.

An insurance fund created through public donations will be accessible for one year from June 1 or Children's Day, Dr.Heidi Hu, managing director of China Children Insurance Foundation (CCIF) said Thursday.

The foundation launched the programme in collaboration with the Ministry of Civil Affairs in 2009 to provide free insurance for children of poor families and 712,000 orphans under 18.

"So far, we have distributed about 500,000 insurance contracts to children in 20 provincial regions, including the quake-hit province of Sichuan and the plateau areas of Qinghai and Tibet," said Hu.

Each insured child is covered for 100,000 yuan (about US$15,750) at a premium of 50 yuan a year.

Continue reading here:
Over 70,000 Orphans In China Receive Free Insurance For Severe Illnesses

CARLSBAD, Calif., May 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Life Technologies Corporation (LIFE) today announced the 5500xl W Genetic Analyzer has radically simplified the next generation sequencing workflow, as well as significantly improved the economics of sequencing.The 5500xl W combines unique, rapid in-situ template preparation with the industry leading accuracy and pay-per-lane sequencing already well associated with the 5500 Series Genetic Analyzers.Now with the Wildfire upgrade, 5500 Series Genetic Analyzers are transformed into the most affordable, flexible and accurate optical-based system in the next generation sequencing marketplace.

This simple and rapid on-instrument "Wildfire" template preparation technology completely eliminates all tedious and time consuming steps associated with the previous sample preparation methodology. The Wildfire based template preparation takes only two hours and reduces the price of 5500xl sequencing by 50% - delivering the lowest price per read for any next generation sequencer. The 5500xl W upgrade is available to any existing 5500 or 5500xl Genetic Analyzer customer.

The 5500xl W Genetic Analyzer is now capable of delivering the highest number of tags of any next generation sequencer for RNA sequencing experiments. The combination of inexpensive Wildfire template preparation and, pay-per-lane functionality, also enables low price human exome sequencing.

Customers can directly experience the high quality of 5500xl W data by submitting libraries to the Life Technologies Sequencing Center, (LTSC). Researchers interested in using this service should contact SeqCenter@lifetech.com.The LTSC will perform exome or transcriptome sequencing at affordable promotional pricing. For more detailed information regarding the 5500xl W technology, including pricing, please visit http://www.lifetechnologies.com/5500xlW

Customers Experiencing the Benefits of the 5500xl WThe first 5500xl W Genetic Analyzer has now been installed and is operational in Dr. Edwin Cuppen's laboratory within the Medical Genetics Department of the University Medical Center in Utrecht, The Netherlands. The Cuppen lab works in partnership with the Hubrecht Institute and has a strong reputation for combining experimental methods, including next generation sequencing technology and animal model studies.The lab uses special bioinformatics approaches to identify functional elements in genomes and understand the effects of genetic variation under normal and disease conditions.Dr. Edwin Cuppen will be using the 5500xl W Genetic Analyzer tofocus on large scale whole genome structural variation studies.

Dr. Cuppen said "We are very excited to have 5500xl W Genetic Analyzer installed in our laboratory. The simplified workflow and dramatically increased throughput will have an enormous impact on our ongoing and future experiments. Based on our collaboration with Life Technologies, this technology will enable us to perform next generation sequencing with the best accuracy and fast and simple in-situ template preparation. We will use data from the 5500xl W Genetic Analyzer in our high throughput human structural variation study using mate-pair sequencing. This will enable us to survey dozens of genomes at high resolution and sensitivity in just a single lane."

"We are extremely grateful to Dr. Cuppen for his commitment to the 5500 platform with Wildfire technology," said Mark Gardner, vice president and general manager, 5500 business at Life Technologies. "Customers can now place orders for the Wildfire upgrade in every region, and we anticipate that many of our 5500 customers will choose to upgrade in order to take advantage of this revolutionary advancement in the system's workflow, price, and throughput.By combining pay-per-lane flexibility with Wildfire, 5500 customers will achieve the industry's lowest price per read and highest base-calling accuracy with a simple, low cost upgrade."

For research use only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

About Life TechnologiesLife Technologies Corporation (LIFE) is a global biotechnology company with customers in more than 160 countries using its innovative solutions to solve some of today's most difficult scientific challenges. Quality and innovation are accessible to every lab with its reliable and easy-to-use solutions spanning the biological spectrum with more than 50,000 products for translational research, molecular medicine and diagnostics, stem cell-based therapies, forensics, food safety and animal health. Its systems, reagents and consumables represent some of the most cited brands in scientific research including: Ion Torrent, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, GIBCO, Ambion, Molecular Probes, Novex, and TaqMan. Life Technologies employs approximately 10,400 people and upholds its ongoing commitment to innovation with more than 4,000 patents and exclusive licenses. LIFE had sales of $3.7 billion in 2011. Visit us at our website: http://www.lifetechnologies.com.

Life Technologies' Safe Harbor Statement This press release includes forward-looking statements about our anticipated results that involve risks and uncertainties. Some of the information contained in this press release, including, but not limited to, statements as to industry trends and Life Technologies' plans, objectives, expectations and strategy for its business, contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. When used, the words "believe," "plan," "intend," "anticipate," "target," "estimate," "expect" and the like, and/or future tense or conditional constructions ("will," "may," "could," "should," etc.), or similar expressions, identify certain of these forward-looking statements. Important factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are detailed in filings made byLife Technologies with the Securities and Exchange Commission.Life Technologies undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

View original post here:
Wildfire Upgrade Shaves a Day From the Workflow, Cuts Price of Next Generation Sequencing by 50%, and Maintains ...

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A stem cell treatment investigated for Huntingtons disease holds out hope that scientists will someday be able to reverse damage caused by the degenerative brain disorder.

The technique, which uses reprogrammed skin cells from a Huntingtons patient, successfully restored motor functions in rats, said Dr. Patrik Brundin, a Van Andel Institute researcher who was involved in the study.

Its an interesting step, one weve been hoping for, he said. Its exciting.

The technique also will be tested in treatments for Parkinsons disease, said Brundin, who came to VAI from Sweden in October to lead the institutes Parkinsons research.

Scientists from Sweden, South Korea and the U.S. collaborated on the study, which was published online Monday in the journal Stem Cells.

Brundin said researchers took stem cells derived from the skin of a patient with Huntingtons disease and converted them to brain cells or nerve cells in culture dishes in the lab. The cells were transplanted into the brains of rats that had an experimental form of Huntingtons, and the rats motor functions improved.

The unique features of the (stem cell approach) means that the transplanted cells will be genetically identical to the patient, Jihwan Song, an associate professor at CHA University in Seoul and co-author of the study, said in a statement released by VAI. Therefore, no medications that dampen the immune system to prevent graft rejection will be needed.

Brundin estimated the research might lead to treatments for humans in five to 10 years, although he acknowledged a timeframe is difficult to predict. Researchers are eager to find a new treatment for Huntingtons because there is nothing really powerful to offer currently, he said.

Huntingtons is a genetic disorder affecting one in every 10,000 Americans that slowly diminishes a persons ability to walk, talk and reason. A child of a parent who has Huntingtons has a 50 percent chance of inheriting the gene that causes it.

Medications can relieve some symptoms in some cases, but there are no treatments available that can slow the disease, according to the Huntingtons Disease Society of America.

Read the original:
First treatment for Huntington's disease shows promise in rats, Van Andel Institute scientist says

Editor's Choice Main Category: Cancer / Oncology Also Included In: Stem Cell Research Article Date: 30 May 2012 - 11:00 PDT

Current ratings for: 'Anti-Psychotic Drug For Schizophrenia May Eliminate Cancer Stem Cells'

4.5 (2 votes)

The finding, published in the journal Cell Press, was made after screening hundreds of compounds in search of those that would selectively inhibit human cancer stem cells. The discovery may be evaluated in a clinical trial in the very near future.

Leading author, Mickie Bhatia, from McMaster University declared:

Over the last three decades, cancer survival in patients has remained largely unchanged. Many scientists believe that the likelihood of finding a cure will be greater by addressing the rare and chemotherapy-resistant cancer stem cells.

In contrast to normal stem cells, cancer stem cells are resistant to changing into stable, non-dividing cells types. The researchers used this difference to simultaneously screen compounds against human cancer stem cells to normal human stem cells.

After testing hundreds of compounds, they discovered almost 20 potential cancer stem cell specific drugs, with the antipsychotic drug thioridazine being the most promising of all. Thioridazine is a schizophrenia drug that targets the brain's dopamine receptors. Although the drug does not seem to kill cancer stem cells, it encourages them to differentiate and therefore exhausts the number of self-renewing cells.

By comparing the proteins in leukemia to normal blood cells the researchers established that thioridazine kills leukemia stem cells without affecting normal blood stem cells. Unlike normal blood stem cells, the leukemia stem cells express a dopamine receptor on their surfaces, which also appear on some breast cancer stem cells.

Bhatia said: "This gives us some explanation." It also indicates that dopamine receptors could be biomarkers for rare, tumor-initiating cells.

See the original post here:
Anti-Psychotic Drug For Schizophrenia May Eliminate Cancer Stem Cells

LONDON, May 30,2012 /PRNewswire/ --Stem cell research is very dynamic with research trends, focus, and approaches evolving extremely rapidly. The tool market has to quickly adapt to these challenges and develop innovative tools that address and accelerate research accomplishments.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (http://www.drugdiscovery.frost.com), Strategic Analysis of the European Stem Cell Research Tools Market, finds that the market earned revenues of $148.4 million in 2011 and estimates this to reach $322.0 million in 2017. The segments covered include: bio-imaging and microscopy, cell biology tools, immunochemical, molecular biology tools, and protein biochemistry tools.

"Firms with the capacity to supply tools for stem cell research will increase as the science matures," notes Frost & Sullivan Senior Research Analyst Divyaa Ravishankar. "Soon demand and supply will achieve a degree of equilibrium."

Already, a sizeable stem cell research products market has emerged. Another positive sign for the market has been enhanced industry- academic collaboration.

A key step forward has been the stem cell regulations in a few countries allowing the use of certain cell lines. In some countries such as France, for instance, stem cell regulations are being renewed for the procurement and use of stem cells.

"Such trends indicate the potential for a regulatory climate that would be far less restrictive than the current scenario," adds Divyaa Ravishankar. "This, together with the prospect of diverse applications within the healthcare arena, is bolstering the future of the market."

However, the lack of venture capitalists (VC) poses a grave challenge. VC funding is driven by investment concerns, with companies bidding to double their money every few years in order to return revenue to the fund's investors. As a high risk venture, stem cell technology does not exactly present an attractive investment proposition.

"While these are financial concerns, from the technological standpoint, the challenge remains to understand the basic biology behind stem cells," remarks Divyaa Ravishankar. "There is an urgent need to design and develop specific technology platforms that enhance the production, genetic stability and integration of transplanted cells."

If you are interested in more information on this study, please send an e-mail with your contact details to Janique Morvan, Corporate Communications, at janique.morvan@frost.com.

Strategic Analysis of the European Stem Cell Research Tools Market is part of the Clinical Diagnostics Growth Partnership Services programme, which also includes research in the following markets: European PCR Reagent Market for Research and Clinical Diagnostics and European Next Generation Sequencing Market. All research included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends that have been evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants.

See the rest here:
Rapidly Evolving Stem Cells Market Opens Up Doors for Related Research Tools, Says Frost & Sullivan

Be cautious with stem cells

EDITOR

The secret of restoring health lies in replacing decrepit cells ravaged by disease with stem cells. This advance in stem cell research follows and is closely linked to the simultaneous announcement by former US President Bill Clinton and British Prime Minister John Major in 2000 that scientists had unravelled the human genome by more than 90 percent. The breakthrough of the Human Genome Project was hailed in superlative terms as advancement in the treatment of cancer and hereditary diseases. Clinton described it as the first survey of the entire human genome and "the most wondrous map ever produced by humankind". A couple of years earlier, physician-geneticist Francis Collins, that leading light noted for his discoveries of disease genes, had described the advance in breaking the human genetic code as something that would be judged by history as "more significant than even splitting the atom or going to the moon".

However, the same sage had warned: "We have a small lantern in the form of a gene, but the lantern doesn't penetrate more than a couple of hundred feet. We don't know whether we're going to encounter chasms, rock walls or mountain ranges along the way." It is this warning that we want to draw attention to. In doing so, we recall that Dolly, the cloned sheep that was eventually euthanised after being diagnosed with progressive lung disease in 2003, was the culmination of embryonic stem cell research that pitted moral scruples against science in yet another of their cyclical rancorous confrontations. In the end, governments ordered a stop to what they feared could degenerate into man playing God. It is important to note that the theatre of this apparent antipathy between metaphysics and science was the citadel of the latter in Western Europe and North America, and not some windswept desert country on a plateau in southern Africa. We feel compelled to issue this warning because countries defined by widespread ignorance have often provided the ideal environment for rogue scientists to conduct their nefarious experiments in pursuit of wicked goals. We say this because while the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) has perhaps the highest concentration of educated Batswana, they simply looked the other way as controversy around genetically modified foods raged everywhere else in the world.

Our country being a net exporter of food, it was incumbent upon MoA to at least mount a deliberate awareness campaign and insist on adequate labelling of food. But where food production remains an elusive goal, it must be too much to expect MoA to understand that the end aim of food and pharmaceutical multinationals is depletion of botanical resources in the so-called Third Word and dependence on the West. Hence we receive news that enabling legislation for a stem cell facility is to be passed in July with a sense of trepidation.

Today's thought"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing."

- Albert Einstein

Link:
Be cautious with stem cells

(RTTNews.com) - Cytori Therapeutics (CYTX) said Wednesday it has obtained approval to sell the Celution 800 System in Russia for various medical uses.

These clinical uses are based on those in the current European CE Mark, and include the use of the Celution system and its output of adipose-derived stem and regenerative cells for plastic surgery and select soft tissue therapies, Cytori said.

The company said the Celution system and related products will be sold into Russia for these indications exclusively through its distribution partner Human Stem Cells Institute of Moscow (HSCI).

"This regulatory achievement and the distribution partnership with HSCI gives us immediate access to the Russian market through an established and scientifically driven organization with a sales and marketing team already trained and knowledgeable in cell therapy," said Clyde Shores, Executive Vice-President of Marketing & Sales.

"We anticipate beginning to see the incremental impact from Russian sales starting in the second half of 2012. This approval is an important achievement and helps fulfill our stated 2012 goal to obtain additional market approvals for our technology."

For comments and feedback: contact editorial@rttnews.com

http://www.rttnews.com

Link:
Cytori Obtains Russian Approval To Sell Celution 800 System - Quick Facts

Madison, Wisconsin - Breast-cancer researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have found that two related receptors in a robust signaling pathway must work together as a team to maintain normal activity in mammary stem cells.

Mammary stem cells produce various kinds of breast cell types. They may also drive the development and growth of malignant breast tumors.

Published recently in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, the research also suggests that a new signaling pathway may be involved, a development that eventually could take cancer-drug manufacturers in a new direction.

"We wanted to know if we could use this knowledge to inform us about what might be the transition that occurs to start tumor growth and maintain it," says senior author Dr. Caroline Alexander, professor of oncology at the McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research at the School of Medicine and Public Health.

The paper describes new information about the Wnt signaling pathway. Wnt signaling underlies numerous activities in normal development, but when the system is unregulated, cancer often occurs.

See more here:
Breast stem cell research: Receptor teamwork required and a new pathway may be involved

Public release date: 30-May-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Dian Land dj.land@hosp.wisc.edu 608-261-1034 University of Wisconsin-Madison

MADISON Breast-cancer researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have found that two related receptors in a robust signaling pathway must work together as a team to maintain normal activity in mammary stem cells.

Mammary stem cells produce various kinds of breast cell types. They may also drive the development and growth of malignant breast tumors.

Published recently in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, the research also suggests that a new signaling pathway may be involved, a development that eventually could take cancer-drug manufacturers in a new direction.

"We wanted to know if we could use this knowledge to inform us about what might be the transition that occurs to start tumor growth and maintain it," says senior author Dr. Caroline Alexander, professor of oncology at the McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research at the School of Medicine and Public Health.

The paper describes new information about the Wnt signaling pathway. Wnt signaling underlies numerous activities in normal development, but when the system is unregulated, cancer often occurs.

"Wnt signaling is very important for both stem cells and tumor growth. We need to know the details of the signaling process so that we can use the positive aspects of Wnt signaling for regenerative medicine, and eliminate the negative cancer-causing aspects," says Alexander, a member of the UW Carbone Cancer Center (CCC).

Regenerative biologists typically add Wnt proteins together with other agents to guide the differentiation of lung, bone and heart stem cells, she notes.

The UW researchers zeroed in on two related Wnt receptors on the cell surface--LRP5 and LRP6. The receptors normally respond to Wnt ligands that approach cells to initiate a signaling cascade inside.

See more here:
Breast stem-cell research: Receptor teamwork is required and a new pathway may be involved

SAN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwire -05/30/12)- Cytori Therapeutics (CYTX) has obtained approval to sell the Celution 800 System in Russia for various medical uses. These clinical uses are based on those in the current European CE Mark, and include the use of the Celution system and its output of adipose-derived stem and regenerative cells (ADRCs) for plastic surgery and select soft tissue therapies.

The Celution system and related products will be sold into Russia for these indications exclusively through Cytori's distribution partner Human Stem Cells Institute of Moscow (HSCI). HSCI develops and commercializes a diverse portfolio of cell and gene-based treatments. With Cytori, they intend to initially target physicians and clinics seeking to perform a full range of soft tissue procedures such as injections, autologous fat grafting and tissue repair procedures.

"This regulatory achievement and the distribution partnership with HSCI gives us immediate access to the Russian market through an established and scientifically driven organization with a sales and marketing team already trained and knowledgeable in cell therapy," said Clyde W. Shores, Executive Vice-President of Marketing & Sales. "We anticipate beginning to see the incremental impact from Russian sales starting in the second half of 2012. This approval is an important achievement and helps fulfill our stated 2012 goal to obtain additional market approvals for our technology."

Russia is now the 11th largest medical market in the world and is experiencing double digit growth. The plastic and reconstructive surgery market, which is predominately private pay, represents a part of this growth. Specifically, more than 25,000 anatomical soft tissue augmentations and an additional estimated 12,000 fat grafting procedures are performed each year in Russia.

About Human Stem Cells Institute

Human Stem Cells Institute (eng.hsci.ru) is Russia's first public biotech company and was founded in 2003. The main focus of HSCI is research and development as well as commercialization and marketing of innovative proprietary products and services in the areas of cell-based and gene and post-genomic technologies. Additionally, HSCI owns the largest family cord blood stem cells bank in Russia -- Gemabank.

About Cytori

Cytori Therapeutics, Inc. is developing cell therapies based on autologous adipose-derived regenerative cells (ADRCs) to treat cardiovascular disease and repair soft tissue defects. Our scientific data suggest ADRCs improve blood flow, moderate the immune response and keep tissue at risk of dying alive. As a result, we believe these cells can be applied across multiple "ischemic" conditions. These therapies are made available to the physician and patient at the point-of-care by Cytori's proprietary technologies and products, including the Celution system product family. http://www.cytori.com

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This communication includes forward-looking statements regarding events, trends and business prospects, which may affect our future operating results and financial position. Such statements, including, but not limited to, those regarding our ability to successfully develop the market for Celution in Russia, are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results and financial position to differ materially. Some of these risks and uncertainties include the challenges inherent in convincing physicians and patients to adopt the new technology, creating and implementing a successful marketing and sales strategy, as well as our history of operating losses, regulatory uncertainties, dependence on third party performance, and other risks and uncertainties described under the "Risk Factors" in Cytori's Securities and Exchange Commission Filings, including its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011. Cytori assumes no responsibility to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this press release to reflect events, trends or circumstances after the date of this press release.

Read more:
Cytori Obtains Celution(R) Approval in Russia; To Launch Product Line for Plastic Surgery and Select Soft Tissue ...

More Topics: Choose a Sector Accounting Firms Advertising/Media/Communications Capital CEO/Board General Business Health/Biotech Internet/Technology Investment Firms Law Firms Mergers & Acquisitions Money Managers People Private Companies Public Companies Venture Capital

Posted May 29, 2012

Philip A. Lowry

Highly Recognized Bone Marrow Stem Cell Transplant Specialist Added to Existing Member Expertise in Maternal Fetal Medicine, Cardiology, and Pathology

CLEARWATER, FL -- Biostem U.S., Corporation, (OTCQB: HAIR) (PINKSHEETS: HAIR) a stem cell regenerative medicine sciences company, announced that Philip A. Lowry, MD, has been appointed as the Chairman of its Scientific and Medical Board of Advisors (SAMBA).

According to Biostem CEO, Dwight Brunoehler, "As Chairman, Dr. Lowry will work with a team drawn from a cross-section of medical specialties. His combination of research, academic and community practice experience make him the perfect individual to coordinate and lead the outstanding group of physicians that makes up our SAMBA. As a group, The SAMBA will guide the company to maintain the highest ethical standards in every effort, while seeking and developing new cutting edge technology based on stem cell use. I am privileged to work with Dr. Lowry, once again."

Dr. Lowry stated, "Dwight is an innovative businessman with an eye on cutting-edge stem cell technology. His history in the industry speaks for itself. I like the plan at Biostem and look forward to working with everyone involved."

Dr. Philip A. Lowry received his undergraduate degree from Harvard College before going on to the Yale University School of Medicine. His completed his internal medicine residency at the University of Virginia then pursued fellowship training in hematology and oncology there as well. During fellowship training and subsequently at the University of Massachusetts, he worked in the laboratory of Dr. Peter Quesenberry working on in vitro and in vivo studies of mouse and human stem cell biology.

Dr. Lowry twice served on the faculty at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center from 1992-1996 and from 2004-2009 as an assistant and then associate clinical professor of medicine establishing the bone marrow/stem cell transplantation program there, serving as medical director of the Cryopreservation Lab supporting the transplant program, helping to develop a cord blood banking program, and teaching and coordinating the second year medical school course in hematology and oncology. Dr. Lowry additionally has ten years experience in the community practice of hematology and oncology. In 2010, Dr. Lowry became chief of hematology/oncology for the Guthrie Health System, a three-hospital tertiary care system serving northern Pennsylvania and southern New York State. He is charged with developing a cutting-edge cancer program that can project into a traditionally rural health care delivery system.

Dr. Lowry has also maintained a career-long interest in regenerative medicine springing from his research and practice experience in stem cell biology. His new role positions him to foster further development of that field. As part of a horizontally and vertically integrated multi-specialty team, he is closely allied with colleagues in cardiology, neurology/neurosurgery, and orthopedics among others with whom he hopes to stimulate the expansion of regenerative techniques.

Visit link:
Biostem Appoints Philip A. Lowry, MD as Chairman of Its Scientific and Medical Board of Advisors

EDINBURGH, Scotland, May 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Research into conditions such as multiple sclerosis and heart and liver disease will benefit from multi-million dollar stem cell research and life sciences facilities opened yesterday by HRH, the Princess Royal.

The Princess Royal is to unveil plaques this afternoon at the $85 million Scottish Centre for Regenerative Medicine (SCRM) and $38 million bio-incubator facility, Nine, in Edinburgh.

The University of Edinburgh's Scottish Centre for Regenerative Medicine will carry out cutting-edge stem cell research to help find therapies for patients with conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, motor neurone disease, and heart and liver diseases.

The centre is the first large-scale, purpose-built facility of its kind and provides accommodation for up to 250 stem cell scientists. The centre, funded by the University of Edinburgh, Scottish Enterprise, the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the British Heart Foundation through its Mending Broken Hearts Appeal, was opened by the Princess Royal in her role as Chancellor of the University. It includes the most up-to-date facilities in the UK, which meet the highest guidelines, to manufacture stem cell lines that could be used for patient therapies.

Nine, which has been jointly funded by Scottish Enterprise and the UK Government's Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, provides 85,000 square feet of laboratory and office space for both established biotechnology companies and start-up ventures. These could include potential spin-out companies from the University of Edinburgh.

Both buildings form a major investment in research at Edinburgh BioQuarter, which is in the city's Little France area and encompasses the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and the University of Edinburgh's Queen's Medical Research Institute and Chancellor's Building.

Professor Charles french-Constant, Director of the Medical Research Council Centre for Regenerative Medicine at the SCRM and Chair of Medical Neurology at the University of Edinburgh, said: "Recent research into stem cells has heralded the beginning of a revolution in modern medicine. The Scottish Centre for Regenerative Medicine's great strength lies in bringing world-class clinicians and scientists to work together, encouraging the translation of laboratory discoveries into treatments for patients. The research will help in finding treatments for devastating conditions, for which there are currently no cures."

Jim McFarlane, Managing Director of Operations at Scottish Enterprise said: "Scotland has a distinguished history in developing breakthroughs in medical science and we believe that, collectively, the concentration of world-class research and facilities at Edinburgh BioQuarter will provide a breeding ground conducive to new medical discoveries that will continue that tradition for centuries to come and have a significant impact on the Scottish economy.

"Already, Nine has secured its first tenants and is attracting significant interest from potential occupiers from Scotland's life sciences sector.The official opening of the bio-incubator facility marks a major milestone in cementing Scotland's global reputation for excellence in commercialization of medical research."

Edinburgh BioQuarter is a joint venture between NHS Lothian, Scottish Enterprise, the University of Edinburgh and Alexandria Real Estate Equities, to boost developments in life sciences. This includes assisting the formation of spin-out companies from NHS and University of Edinburgh research, as well as encouraging partnerships with the bio-pharmaceutical industry.

Here is the original post:
Scotland opens stem cell research center and bio-medical incubator