2024-09-03 21:23:29
Blood cancer is one of the deadliest types of cancer. a stem cell transplant is the only chance of healingA new discovery could significantly simplify therapy.
Every twelve minutes, someone in Germany receives the devastating diagnosis of blood cancer (leukemia). This type of cancer is still the most common cause of cancer-related deaths – especially among younger people. For many, only a stem cell transplant can help. But the right donor is not always found quickly.
Researchers have therefore been looking for years for ways to produce stem cells in the laboratory that can develop into different blood cells. Transplanting such healthy stem cells could replace the diseased bone marrow and restore normal blood formation.
Now Australian scientists have made another significant advance in blood stem cell research.
A team of researchers from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) in Melbourne has for the first time produced blood stem cells in the laboratory that are very similar to those in the human body. These cells can develop into red and white blood cells and platelets and are similar to the stem cells of a human embryo. The results of the study were recently published in the renowned journal “Nature Biotechnology”.
The researchers see great potential in this discovery for the treatment of children suffering from leukaemia or bone marrow failure. Professor Elizabeth Ng from MCRI said: “The ability to take any cell from a patient, reprogram it into a stem cell and then turn it into specifically adapted blood cells for transplantation will have a massive impact on the lives of these vulnerable patients.”
The blood stem cells grown in the laboratory could be used in future blood stem cell and bone marrow transplants, which could significantly reduce the need for donors. Until now, scientists have not been able to develop human blood stem cells in the laboratory that could be successfully transplanted into an animal model. However, the research team at MCRI has developed a new workflow that makes just this possible. Mice with immune deficiencies were injected with human blood stem cells produced in the laboratory. These developed into functioning bone marrow.
Another success of the study: The stem cells grown in the laboratory could be frozen and later successfully transplanted. This corresponds to the current preservation process of donor blood stem cells before a transplant in humans.
The study authors from MCRI emphasized that these results could open up new treatment options for a variety of blood diseases. A blood stem cell transplant is often a life-saving part of the treatment of blood diseases in childhood. However, not all children find a suitable donor, which can lead to serious complications. The researchers hope that the development of personalized blood stem cells could prevent these complications and remedy the shortage of donors.
But there is still a long way to go. The next step in this research is expected to be a Phase 1 clinical trial in the next five years to test the safety of using these laboratory-grown blood cells in humans. The researchers are optimistic: “This research will be a blessing for so many families.” The prospect of one day having targeted treatments for children with leukemia and bone marrow failure is life-changing.