The research and medical use of stem cells is both controversial and immensely promising. On the one hand, many people oppose any use of embryonic stem cells. And while nonembryonic or adult stem cells face little if any protest, the pace of clinical studies and especially FDA approval of specific forms of adult stem cell therapy seem at times exceedingly slow. What most people do not realize is that there are legal autologous stem cell transplant programs operating right here in the United States.
Stem Cells in Health & Disease
Stem cells are in many respects the foundation of all that humans are and become. After a baby is born and begins growing, stem cells play a role in not just the generation of new and replacement cells and tissues, but also in healing and repair. Whenever a body part or tissue becomes diseased or is injured, it sends out chemical signals that attract stem cells that reside in other tissues, especially the bone marrow.
This interplay between signals and mobilization of stem cells usually works well early in life, but can falter with age. Also, acute and chronic illnesses and diseases can tax stem cell reserves. Many experts feel this situation can be addressed by either using drugs that mobilize stem cells such as Neupogen or Mozobil, or by harvesting a patient's own stem cells and giving them back, which is autologous transplant, or both.
US-Based Private Autologous Stem Cell Programs
There are a handful of private autologous stem cell programs operating in the US that offer stem cell based treatments for a fee. Among the better known ones are:
The Centeno-Schultz Clinic/Regenerative Sciences, in Colorado: This clinic has been treating orthopedic issues with stem cells taken from patient's own tissues, including bone marrow, for more than five years and has racked up considerable case history evidence of impressive clinical turnarounds. Ironically, the FDA considers its processing of stem cells the creation of a new drug which must undergo formal testing and then be approved and regulated. Founder Dr. Christopher Centeno disagrees and has filed a lawsuit aimed at forcing the FDA to "allow Regenerative Sciences to question the FDA's policy that adult stem cells can be classified as drugs when used as part of a medical practice."
"Dr. Steenblock's Clinic," in California: Founder and medical director, David Steenblock, M.S. D.O., harvests a patient's own bone marrow and basically infuses it back by intravenous, or IV, drip. He also employs a variety of leading edge technologies and drugs to mobilize a patient's own stem cells and also administers IV infusions of FDA approved "stem cell activators." He claims impressive results.
Concluding Remarks
The aforementioned clinical programs and others like it are in some respects deemed "fringy" by some mainstream doctors because they offer scientifically unproved treatments, but at least enjoy a high standard of regulatory oversight and accountability. And for patients who cannot wait years, if not decades, for specific stem cell treatments to be approved by the FDA and enter the medical mainstream, these clinic's offerings may be their best shot at relief, if not actual physical improvement or even turnaround.
