Stem cell scientists from around the world gathered at the International Society of Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) in San Francisco to exchange information about the latest treatments with stem cells. An American company, TCA Cellular Therapy, LLC announced its FDA clinical trial results using adult stem cells in patients with history of a heart attack during open heart surgery.
“I anticipate that in the near future adult stem cells will be offered to patients with a history of heart attack who are going to have bypass surgery”
TCA Cellular Therapy's cardiovascular team for this study was led by stem cell experts Jose J. Minguell, PhD, interventional cardiologist Gabriel Lasala, MD, and cardiovascular surgeon Fidel Sendra, MD.
Utilizing TCA Cellular Therapy's proprietary combination adult stem cell product derived from a patient's own bone marrow, the research team infused a combination of cells directly into heart attack patients' hearts during bypass surgery. During the trial, seven patients received the adult stem cell infusion, and three control patients did not. While other trials used a single cell type, this is the first research in the world using a combination of two different types of stem cells during bypass surgery.
"The conclusion of the study," explained TCA Cellular Therapy president Gabriel Lasala, MD, "is that the treatment is safe and better improves heart function in patients who received adult stem cells during surgery, as opposed to those with only surgical bypass."
During the follow up period, the first two months of improvement are the results of the surgery. After month 2 the improvements are attributed to the adult stem cells injected. These changes were observed in the increase in blood flow as well as the pumping action of the heart. The theory that the combination cell product may promote the development of mature and stable capillaries will be further examined in the Phase II clinical trials.
"I anticipate that in the near future adult stem cells will be offered to patients with a history of heart attack who are going to have bypass surgery," concluded Dr. Lasala.
Currently, this privately-held company has multiple ongoing FDA clinical trials utilizing a patient's own cells for the treatment of cardiovascular and neurological diseases, including blockages to the heart and legs, heart attack, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease), and Spinal Cord Injury.
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