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UK Researchers Seek Human Trials for Fetal Cell Stroke Therapy Despite Past Disasters

Brain tissue of aborted 12-week baby used to grow cells for treatment

By Gudrun Schultz

GUILDFORD, United Kingdom, December 6, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A UK company wants to use stem cells taken from the brain of an aborted 12-week-old child to attempt to treat stroke victims, claiming the artificially-stimulated cells have potential to regenerate stroke-damaged tissue.

BBC reported yesterday on ReNeuron’s request to the US Food and Drug Administration to begin human trials on 12 stroke patients. The process requires genetic modification of the brain cells taken from the unborn child, however, raising serious safety questions since the technique utilizes a gene associated with tumor growth.

In order to increase the cells’ ability to multiply, researchers introduced a gene called c-myc, which under normal conditions aids in cell division. When abnormalities are present within the cell, however, the gene can contribute to uncontrollable cellular replication, causing cancer.

The ReNeuron team claims to have controlled the gene’s activity by modifying it so it only triggers cell replication when a chemical is added, and stops once the chemical is removed.

Previous research experiments with human trials using tissue obtained from unborn babies have had catastrophic results. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine showed the “disastrous” side effects of using brain cells from aborted babies in an attempt to treat Parkinson’s disease, as patients began to “chew constantly” and “writhe and twist, jerk their heads, fling their arms about.” The infant cells produced too much dopamine in the adult brains.

A second U.S. study found that 13 of 23 Parkinson’s patients treated with aborted fetal tissue developed severe uncontrollable movements. Side effects in both cases were irreversible.

Experiments using embryonic cells to treat animals have repeatedly found that the cells triggered tumor growth through uncontrolled replication.

A further serious problem has been adult rejection of the fetal tissue, necessitating the constant use of damaging anti-rejection drugs.

Pro-life advocates spoke out against ReNeuron’s proposal to use cells obtained from an unborn child as “unethical in every way.” John Smeaton, director of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, told the BBC he was completely opposed to the research.

“It’s a sick proposal. It involves cannibalizing an unborn child,” Smeaton said.
“It’s unethical in every way - killing one member of the human race to help another. We are totally opposed to this.”

 At 12 weeks gestation an unborn child is fully formed and capable of controlled movement. Recent developments in ultrasound technology fascinated the public with images of unborn babies at 12 weeks “walking” in the womb, sucking their thumbs and showing facial expression.

In the meantime the list of successful treatments on human patients using stem cells obtained from the patient’s own tissue continues to grow. The most recent breakthrough has been the successful treatment of heart attack victims with stem cells obtained from their own bone marrow, scheduled to begin trials in London in January. International trials found the treatment remarkably successful in causing the damaged heart tissue to regenerate.

See BBC coverage:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6207236.stm

See related LifeSiteNews coverage:

Fetal Tissue Transplants Cause Disaster Again for Parkinson's Patients in Experimental Treatment
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2003/aug/03082503.html

Placenta Cells Share Characteristics of Embryo Cells Without Tumor Formation
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/aug/05081004.html

Adult Stem Cells from Human Retina Reproduce and Differentiate Easily
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/oct/04102605.html

Adult Stem Cells Used to Treat Emergency Heart Attack Patients
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/nov/06110809.html

Amazing New Ultrasound Shows First-Ever Pictures of Unborn at 12 Weeks 'Walking' in the womb
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/jun/04062801.html

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