New tool illuminates connections between stem cells and cancer — 2010 Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science – Researchers have a new tool to understand how cancers grow — and with it a new opportunity to identify novel cancer drugs. They’ve been able to break apart human prostate tissue, extract the stem cells in that tissue, and alter those cells genetically so that they spur cancer.
First successful use of expanded umbilical-cord blood units to treat leukemia – Scientists at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center have cleared a major technical hurdle to making umbilical-cord-blood transplants a more widely-used method for treating leukemia and other blood cancers.
Citrus surprise: Vitamin C boosts the reprogramming of adult cells into stem cells – Famous for its antioxidant properties and role in tissue repair, vitamin C is touted as beneficial for illnesses ranging from the common cold to cancer and perhaps even for slowing the aging process.
University of Michigan (U-M) study reveals lack of diversity in embryonic stem cell lines – The most widely used human embryonic stem cell lines lack genetic diversity, a finding that raises social justice questions that must be addressed to ensure that all sectors of society benefit from stem cell advances, according to a University of Michigan research team.
‘Mini’ stem cell transplantation may reverse severe sickle cell disease – Results of a preliminary study by scientists at the National Institutes of Health and Johns Hopkins show that “mini” stem cell transplantation may safely reverse severe sickle cell disease in adults.
Umbilical stem cells may help recover lost vision for those with corneal disease – New research from the University of Cincinnati (UC) may help in the recovery of lost vision for patients with corneal scarring.
Multiple myeloma patients experience high response rate with new 3-drug combination – A new three-drug combination has shown in a phase 1/2 clinical trial that it is a “highly effective regimen” in the treatment of patients newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a cancer of white blood cells in bone marrow, say researchers from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
UCSB, UCL scientists rescue visual function in rats using induced pluripotent stem cells – An international team of scientists has rescued visual function in laboratory rats with eye disease by using cells similar to stem cells. The research shows the potential for stem cell-based therapies to treat age-related macular degeneration in humans.
New stem cell technology developed at Hebrew University — Leads to better treatment for complicated bone fractures – Researchers have developed a new way of using stem cells to provide better and rapid healing for patients suffering from complicated bone fractures.
First reconstitution of an epidermis from human embryonic stem cells – Stem cells to create new skin for patients with burns and skin diseases. – Researchers has succeeded in recreating a whole epidermis from human embryonic stem cells, revealed in a new study conducted by Marc Peschanski of INSERM published in the Lancet.
Stem cell therapy may offer hope for acute lung injury – Adult stem cells from bone marrow can prevent acute lung injury in a mouse model of the disease, revealed by researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine.
‘Liposuction leftovers’ easily converted to IPS cells, Stanford study shows – Human fat removed during liposuction conceal versatile cells that are more quickly and easily coaxed to become induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPS cells, than are the skin cells most often used by researchers.
