Human Trials: Man Cured of Multiple Sclerosis Using Adult Stem Cells |
16 others cured in same trial |
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Editors published 2/23/2009 11:40:00 AM
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A Northwestern University clinical trial using adult stem cells 'cures' Edwin McClure, a Virginia Commonwealth University advertising graduate student with multiple sclerosis.
Stem cells were removed from his bone marrow and grown in a lab. His existing cells were destroyed by chemotherapy, then replaced by the new ones via injection.
His symptoms have since disappeared.
McClure started showing symptoms of MS in 2000 when he was a senior in high school.
Although he initially thought it was just a cold, he knew the condition was more serious when his vision began blurring. Then came fatigue, allergies, heat intolerance and bad balance.
In 2005, [he was told about] the clinical trial, led by Dr. Richard Burt at Northwestern University.
The trial used the patient's own stem cells to regenerate the immune system and reverse the symptoms of MS. The trial consisted of 21 patients. According to the lead author of the study, this is the first study to show an actual reversal of the disease.
McClure flew to Evanston, Ill., to participate. During the course of the trial, doctors took out McClure's own stem cells and used them to grow more cells. He then was given a course of chemotherapy to wipe out his immune system.
The treatment took nearly a month.
After the month was complete, McClure returned to the hospital. His harvested stem cells then were transplanted back into his body.
When his cell count started increasing and McClure's symptoms started getting better, he and his mother knew the trial might have worked. Three years later, McClure said his symptoms have disappeared.
The treatment will go through one more trial before it can become an approved treatment for MS.
Related:
Human Trials: Adult Stem Cell Therapy Stabilizes Multiple Sclerosis Patients
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