Stem Cell Therapy for COPD: Hope and Exploitation – DocWire News

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Chest. 2021 Apr 21:S0012-3692(21)00709-1. doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2021.04.020. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory and destructive disease characterized by progressive decline in lung function that can accelerate with aging. Preclinical studies suggest that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) may provide a therapeutic option for this incurable disease due to their anti-inflammatory, reparative, and immunomodulatory properties. To date, clinical trials using MSCs demonstrate safety in patients with COPD. However, due to the notable absence of large multicenter randomized trials, there is no efficacy or evidence to support that MSCs can restore lung function in patients with COPD. Unfortunately, the investigational status of cell-based interventions for lung diseases has not hindered the propagation of commercial businesses, exploitation of the public, and explosion of medical tourism to promote unproven and potentially harmful cell-based interventions for COPD in the United States and worldwide. Patients with COPD constitute the largest group of patients with lung disease flocking to these unregulated clinics. This review highlights the numerous questions and concerns that remain prior to the establishment of cell-based interventions as safe and efficacious treatments for patients with COPD.

PMID:33894254 | DOI:10.1016/j.chest.2021.04.020

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Stem Cell Therapy for COPD: Hope and Exploitation - DocWire News