8 ms·

What does the stem cell treatment help with beyond the existing fetal surgery? Since it's in addition to the usual surgical treatment

• nickburns 7mo ago
  The CuRe Trial is exploring whether stem cells can add regenerative power to surgery, potentially improving mobility and quality of life. “This is a major step toward a new kind of fetal therapy, one that doesn’t just repair but potentially helps heal and protect the developing spinal cord,” said Aijun Wang, co inventor of the placental-derived stem cell treatment technology and the study’s co-principal investigator [ . . . ].
  • jey 7mo ago
    That doesn't really explain anything biologically. Just vaguely says "potentially helps heal and protect"
    • nickburns 7mo ago
      https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)02466-3/fulltext https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6...
    • vilhelm_s 7mo ago
      They cite this paper which gives the concept: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002234681200810X https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002234681... . The mechanism of injury in spina bifida is that the spinal cord gets exposed and damaged. Current surgery will close the spinal canal to prevent further exposure, but it doesn't do anything to reverse the damage that has already happened. The stem cells integrate into the neural tissue and hopefully help the axons heal.
• Metacelsus 7mo ago
  As a stem cell biologist: my guess is that it doesn't help much