Editing Stem cell (section)

==Therapies==
{{Main|Stem cell therapy}}

Stem cell therapy is the use of stem cells to treat or prevent a disease or condition. [[Bone marrow transplant]] is a form of stem cell therapy that has been used for many years because it has proven to be effective in clinical trials.<ref name="Why Perform a Stem Cell Transplant">{{Cite web |title=Why Perform a Stem Cell Transplant? – Explore Stem Cells |url=https://www.explorestemcells.co.uk/WhyPerformStemCellTransplant.html |access-date=2024-12-28 |website=www.explorestemcells.co.uk|first=Ian |last=Murnaghan }}</ref><ref name="NCI2">{{Cite web |date=2015-04-29 |title=Stem Cell and Bone Marrow Transplants for Cancer - NCI |url=https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/types/stem-cell-transplant |access-date=2024-12-28 |website=www.cancer.gov |language=en}}</ref> Stem cell implantation may help in strengthening the left-ventricle of the heart, as well as retaining the heart tissue to patients who have suffered from heart attacks in the past.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Stamm C, Westphal B, Kleine HD, Petzsch M, Kittner C, Klinge H, Schümichen C, Nienaber CA, Freund M, Steinhoff G | display-authors = 6 | title = Autologous bone-marrow stem-cell transplantation for myocardial regeneration | journal = Lancet | volume = 361 | issue = 9351 | pages = 45–46 | date = January 2003 | pmid = 12517467 | doi = 10.1016/S0140-6736(03)12110-1 | s2cid = 23858666 }}</ref>

For over 50 years, [[hematopoietic stem cell transplantation]] (HSCT) has been used to treat people with conditions such as [[leukaemia]] and [[lymphoma]]; this is the only widely practiced form of stem-cell therapy.<ref name="Why Perform a Stem Cell Transplant"/><ref name="NCI2"/><ref name="pmid18721775">{{cite journal |vauthors=Karanes C, Nelson GO, Chitphakdithai P, Agura E, Ballen KK, Bolan CD, Porter DL, Uberti JP, King RJ, Confer DL |year=2008 |title=Twenty years of unrelated donor hematopoietic cell transplantation for adult recipients facilitated by the National Marrow Donor Program |journal=Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation |volume=14 |issue=9 Suppl |pages=8–15 |doi=10.1016/j.bbmt.2008.06.006 |pmid=18721775 |doi-access=free}}</ref> {{As of|2016|}}, the only established therapy using stem cells is [[hematopoietic stem cell transplantation]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Müller |first1=Albrecht M. |last2=Huppertz |first2=Sascha |last3=Henschler |first3=Reinhard |date=July 2016 |title=Hematopoietic Stem Cells in Regenerative Medicine: Astray or on the Path? |journal=Transfusion Medicine and Hemotherapy |volume=43 |issue=4 |pages=247–254 |doi=10.1159/000447748 |issn=1660-3796 |pmc=5040947 |pmid=27721700}}</ref> This usually takes the form of a [[Bone marrow|bone-marrow]] transplantation, but the cells can also be derived from [[umbilical cord blood]]. Research is underway to develop various sources for stem cells as well as to apply stem-cell treatments for [[neurodegenerative diseases]]<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Lyon |first=Louisa |date=2018-10-01 |title=Stem cell therapies in neurology: the good, the bad and the unknown |journal=Brain |language=en |volume=141 |issue=10 |pages=e77 |doi=10.1093/brain/awy221 |issn=0006-8950 |pmid=30202947 |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Mahla RS |year=2016 |title=Stem cells application in regenerative medicine and disease threpeutics |journal=International Journal of Cell Biology |volume=2016 |issue=7 |pages=1–24 |doi=10.1155/2016/6940283 |pmc=4969512 |pmid=27516776 |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Tế bào gốc là gì |url=https://miraicare.vn/te-bao-goc-la-gi-vai-tro-va-ung-dung-cua-te-bao-goc |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=Mirai Care |language=vi-VN}}</ref> and conditions such as [[diabetes]] and [[heart disease]].

=== Advantages ===
Stem cell treatments may lower symptoms of the disease or condition that is being treated. The lowering of symptoms may allow patients to reduce the drug intake of the disease or condition. Stem cell treatment may also provide knowledge for society to further stem cell understanding and future treatments.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Master Z, McLeod M, Mendez I | title = Benefits, risks and ethical considerations in translation of stem cell research to clinical applications in Parkinson's disease | journal = Journal of Medical Ethics | volume = 33 | issue = 3 | pages = 169–173 | date = March 2007 | pmid = 17329391 | pmc = 2598267 | doi = 10.1136/jme.2005.013169 | jstor = 27719821 }}</ref> The physicians' creed would be to do no injury, and stem cells make that simpler than ever before. Surgical processes by their character are harmful. Tissue has to be dropped as a way to reach a successful outcome. One may prevent the dangers of surgical interventions using stem cells. Additionally, there's a possibility of disease, and whether the procedure fails, further surgery may be required. Risks associated with anesthesia can also be eliminated with stem cells.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Comprehensive Stem Cell Training Course|url=https://r3medicaltraining.com/events/comprehensive-stem-cell-training-course/|access-date=2021-05-15|website=R3 Medical Training|language=en-US}}</ref> On top of that, stem cells have been harvested from the patient's body and redeployed in which they're wanted. Since they come from the patient's own body, this is referred to as an autologous treatment. Autologous remedies are thought to be the safest because there's likely zero probability of donor substance rejection.

===Disadvantages===
Stem cell treatments may require [[immunosuppression]] because of a requirement for radiation before the transplant to remove the person's previous cells, or because the patient's immune system may target the stem cells. One approach to avoid the second possibility is to use stem cells from the same patient who is being treated.

Pluripotency in certain stem cells could also make it difficult to obtain a specific cell type. It is also difficult to obtain the exact cell type needed, because not all cells in a population differentiate uniformly. Undifferentiated cells can create tissues other than desired types.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=2000-03-04 |title=Before We Are Born: Essentials of Embryology and Birth Defects, 5th edition |url=https://doi.org/10.1016/s1526-9523(99)00026-4 |journal=Journal of Midwifery &amp; Women's Health |volume=45 |issue=2 |pages=192–192 |doi=10.1016/s1526-9523(99)00026-4 |issn=1526-9523| vauthors = Moore KL, Persaud TV, Torchia MG | location = Philadelphia, PA | publisher = Saunders, Elsevier}}</ref>

Some stem cells form tumors after transplantation;<ref name = "usn2009">{{cite news|first=Bernadine |last=Healy |url=http://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/heart-to-heart/2009/03/04/why-embryonic-stem-cells-are-obsolete |title=Why Embryonic Stem Cells are obsolete|publisher=US News and world report |access-date=Aug 17, 2015}}</ref> pluripotency is linked to tumor formation especially in embryonic stem cells, fetal proper stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells. Fetal proper stem cells form tumors despite multipotency.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/news-blog/embryonic-stem-cells-cause-cancer-i-2009-02-19/|title=Fetal stem cells cause tumor in a teenage boy|first=Coco|last=Ballantyne|website=Scientific American}}</ref>

Ethical concerns are also raised about the practice of using or researching embryonic stem cells. Harvesting cells from the blastocyst results in the death of the blastocyst. The concern is whether or not the blastocyst should be considered as a human life.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Ethical Issues in Stem Cell Research |last1=Lo |first1=Bernard |last2=Parham |first2=Lindsay |journal=Endocrine Reviews |publisher=NIH |date=May 2009 |volume=30 |issue=3 |pages=204–213 |doi=10.1210/er.2008-0031 |pmid=19366754 |pmc=2726839 }}</ref> The debate on this issue is mainly a philosophical one, not a scientific one.

=== Stem cell tourism ===
Stem cell tourism is the part of the [[medical tourism]] industry in which patients  travel to  obtain stem cell procedures.<ref>
  {{cite journal |last1=Bauer |first1=G |last2=Elsallab |first2=M |last3=Abou-El-Enein |first3=M |title=Concise Review: A Comprehensive Analysis of Reported Adverse Events in Patients Receiving Unproven Stem Cell-Based Interventions |journal=Stem Cells Translational Medicine |date=September 2018 |volume=7 |issue=9 |pages=676–685 |doi=10.1002/sctm.17-0282 |pmid=30063299 |pmc=6127222}}
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The United States  has had an explosion of "stem cell clinics".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Blackwell |first=Tom |date=2016-07-13 |title=Study reveals explosion of unproven stem-cell treatment in U.S. — and many Canadians are seeking them out |language=en |work=National Post |url=https://nationalpost.com/health/study-reveals-explosion-of-unproven-stem-cell-treatment-in-u-s-and-many-canadians-are-seeking-them-out |access-date=2022-03-22}}</ref>  Stem cell procedures are highly profitable for clinics.  The advertising sounds authoritative but the efficacy and safety of the procedures is unproven.  Patients sometimes experience complications, such as spinal tumors<ref name="Berkowitz et al 2016">{{cite journal |last1=Berkowitz |first1=Aaron L. |last2=Miller |first2=Michael B. |last3=Mir |first3=Saad A. |last4=Cagney |first4=Daniel |last5=Chavakula |first5=Vamsidhar |last6=Guleria |first6=Indira |last7=Aizer |first7=Ayal |last8=Ligon |first8=Keith L. |last9=Chi |first9=John H. |title=Glioproliferative Lesion of the Spinal Cord as a Complication of 'Stem-Cell Tourism' |journal=New England Journal of Medicine |date=14 July 2016 |volume=375 |issue=2 |pages=196–198 |doi=10.1056/NEJMc1600188 |pmid=27331440 |doi-access=free }}</ref> and death. The high expense can also lead to financial problems.<ref name="Berkowitz et al 2016"/> According to researchers, there is a need to educate the public, patients, and doctors about this issue.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bowman |first1=Michelle |last2=Racke |first2=Michael |last3=Kissel |first3=John |last4=Imitola |first4=Jaime |title=Responsibilities of Health Care Professionals in Counseling and Educating Patients With Incurable Neurological Diseases Regarding 'Stem Cell Tourism': Caveat Emptor |journal=JAMA Neurology |date=1 November 2015 |volume=72 |issue=11 |pages=1342–1345 |doi=10.1001/jamaneurol.2015.1891 |pmid=26322563 }}
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According to the [[International Society for Stem Cell Research]], the largest academic organization that advocates for stem cell research, stem cell therapies are under development and cannot yet be said to be proven.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.isscr.org/news-publicationsss/isscr-news-articles/blog-detail/stem-cells-in-focus/2019/11/12/communicating-about-unproven-stem-cell-treatments-to-the-public|title=Communicating About Unproven Stem Cell Treatments to the Public}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Tsou |first1=Amy |title=Ethical Considerations When Counseling Patients About Stem Cell Tourism |journal=Continuum: Lifelong Learning in Neurology |date=February 2015 |volume=21 |issue=1 Spinal Cord Disorders |pages=201–205 |doi=10.1212/01.CON.0000461094.76563.be |pmid=25651226 }}</ref> Doctors should inform patients that clinical trials continue to investigate whether these therapies are safe and effective but that unethical clinics present them as proven.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Du |first1=Li |last2=Rachul |first2=Christen |last3=Guo |first3=Zhaochen |last4=Caulfield |first4=Timothy |title=Gordie Howe's 'Miraculous Treatment': Case Study of Twitter Users' Reactions to a Sport Celebrity's Stem Cell Treatment |journal=JMIR Public Health and Surveillance |date=9 March 2016 |volume=2 |issue=1 |pages=e8 |doi=10.2196/publichealth.5264 |pmid=27227162 |pmc=4869214 |doi-access=free }}</ref>