Stem cells injected into brain of Victorian patient in world-first Parkinson’s diseas
 

hope this is correct and not bogus or old
if i post the link it allows only subscriber only, got into it via a google search
LUCIE VAN DEN BERG, Herald Sun
September 13, 2016 4:00am
Subscriber only



STEM cells have been injected into the brain of a Victorian patient as part of a world-first trial to treat Parkinson’s disease.

In experimental surgery, Royal Melbourne Hospital neuroscientists transplanted millions of cells at 14 injection sites via just two 1.5cm holes in the skull.

The cells, which can metamorphose into brain cells, had been frozen and flown in from the United States, in a global collaboration.
Neurosurgeon Mr Girish Nair holds a 3D printed skull of a patient and neurologist Dr Andrew Evans holds a vial of stem cells. Picture: David Caird

It is hoped the cells will boost levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, a lack of which causes tremors, rigidity and slowness.

The therapy, which pushes the frontiers of science and surgery, had shown great promise in preclinical trials, paving the way for human trials.

The identity of the patient, 64, remains private while he recovers from the pioneering surgery.

Months of planning, which involved designing the operation from scratch, winning regulatory approval, and importing a machine that has never been used in Australia, was required.

Using a three-dimensional model of the patient’s brain, neurologist Andrew Evans and neurosurgeon Girish Nair spent weeks doing “dummy runs”, devising a way to enter the brain.

Hospital staff donated their time for the eight-hour operation.


Using the imported machine, the doctors travelled deep into the brain, making tiny tracks in the delicate tissue with cannulas to reach seven target sites on each side of the brain, leaving only a small surgical footprint.

A minuscule quantity of cells was implanted at a precise rate, totalling 300 microlitres.

Risks include paralysis, stroke, or death. If the cells escaped into the spinal fluid they could be lost; if they were injected too slowly they could become stuck; or they could grow rapidly into a tumour.

The surgery used pluripotent stem cells, which can change into any cell in the body. But being highly susceptible to their environment, “peer pressure” influences their transformation.

Dr Evans, the trial leader, said: “The idea with cellular replacement therapy is to be able to implant cells that will differentiate or change from stem cells into cells that either produce dopamine or provide other forms of support to remaining neurons.”

The unique treatment uses neural stem cells, derived from unfertilised eggs manufactured in a laboratory by the International Stem Cell Corporation in the US.
Neurosurgeon Mr Girish Nair and neurologist Dr Andrew Evans. Picture: David Caird

“Eventually we hope that we can use our therapy to cure Parkinson’s disease,” the ISCC’s chief scientific officer Russel Kern said.

The team did a scan 24 hours after the operation and were relieved to discover all target sites had been reached without complications.

The patient recovered quickly and was discharged within 72 hours.

No drugs have succeeded in stopping the progression of Parkinson’s, which affects 10 million people worldwide, and treatments for symptoms eventually become ineffective.

It is not yet known if the treatment has been successful, and a cautious Dr Evans said the trial first had to determine its safety. Eleven more patients will now have the surgery.

Final results will be known in two years.

lucie.vandenberg@news.com.au

Here is the link

Our Parkinson's Place: Stem Cells Injected into Brain of Victorian Patient in World-First Parkinson’s disease Treatment

Hi,
I live just a bit north of where the transplant was done.
I don't recall seeing anything on the news or in our Parkinson magazine regarding it.
Exciting news though, hope if it was done the patient benefitted and we can look forward to the team involved to be willing to face the cameras and say with confidence it was successful.
Cheers

A little more information
 

Here is another news article on this operation. It says much the same things, but has a bit more information on the issue of ethics.

World-first Parkinson's stem cell treatment | The New Daily

(hat tip to whack-a-mole at HU for the link)

Are all or most of these stem cell clinics that advertise on the internet bogus? Are there any that are legitimate?

I think they're bogus too!

State-of-play regarding stem cell transplantation for PD
 

My understanding is that stem cell transplantation for PD is still in the research stage.

There was a podcast on this topic (approx. 27 mins) about 6 months ago, from the World Parkinson Coalition.

11 New Neurons for Old by World Parkinson Coalition | Free Listening on SoundCloud

There was also a review article on this topic earlier this year.

Are Stem Cell-Based Therapies for Parkinson’s Disease Ready for the Clinic in 216? - IOS Press

Yes, the Herald Sun newspaper article is correct. This is Phase 1 and 2a (safety, tolerability and efficacy) of a world-first trial injecting parthenogenetic stem cells into the brains of 12 humans. Phase 1 and 2a is being conducted over a 12 month + period, the first candidate underwent surgery in July 2016 and the second is now being prepped for surgery Sept/Oct. The trial is being conducted at the Royal Melbourne Hospital under the leadership of neurologist Dr Andrew Evans and neurosurgeon Dr Girish Nair. Phase 3 and 4 double-blind placebo is expected to follow if the outcome of Phase 1 and 2a is successful.

Just wondering, how would they conduct a double blind placebo controlled clinical trial that involves deep brain surgery?

I don't know how DBS got approved without a placebo but it sure as heck works!

At the final event in Portland several of the main speakers spoke passionately about how claims made in the name of stem cell research are putting the field behind by years.

Another milestone reached (stem cell transplantation)
 

The Melbourne, Australia project rolls on. The 4th patient (i.e. the last one in the first cohort) has received his/her 30 million stem cells.

The next patient (i.e. the first one in the second cohort of 4 patients) is scheduled to receive 50 million stem cells.

Each of the 4 patients in the third cohort are scheduled to receive 70 million stem cells.

International Stem Cell Corporation Completes First Cohort In Parkinson's Disease Clinical Trial Other OTC:ISCO

Another project update
 

The Melbourne, Australia project has rolled on some more:
- All 4 patients in the first cohort have received their 30 million stem cells.
- The first 2 patients in the second cohort have received their 50 million stem cells.
- Each of the 4 patients in the third cohort are scheduled to receive 70 million stem cells.

#AAN218 - Neural Stem Cells Show Promise as Parkinson’s Therapy

This recent paper from International Stem Cell Corporation (ISCO) contains a lot of background information on the technology used in the Melbourne project.

https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/scd.2018.0001

ISCO patent
 

ISCO has recently been granted a patent for their "invention":

International Stem Cell Corporation Granted Key US Patent Protecting Lead Therapeutic Program Other OTC:ISCO

(hat tip to iqbaliqbal at HU for this link)

US Patent for Use of neural cells derived from human pluripotent stem cells for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases Patent (Patent # 1,39,794 issued August 7, 218) - Justia Patents Search

Project Update - June 11, 2018
 

The Melbourne, Australia project keeps rolling on:
- All 4 patients in the first cohort have received their 30 million stem cells.
- All 4 patients in the second cohort have received their 50 million stem cells.
- The first patient in the third cohort has received his/her 70 million stem cells.

"The study will conclude following the dosing of the last three patients of the third cohort, which ISCO plans to complete in 2018."

"... we continue to see encouraging signs of improvement that are dose-dependent, with patients with higher dosage performing better on average than patients with lower dosage ..."

Press Releases: International Stem Cell Corporation Doses First Patient of the Third Cohort in Parkinson's Disease Clinical Trial

More progress in Melbourne
 

The Melbourne, Australia project has reported further progress:

- All 4 patients in the first cohort have received their 30 million stem cells.
- All 4 patients in the second cohort have received their 50 million stem cells.
- The second patient in the third cohort has now received his/her 70 million stem cells.

Press Releases: International Stem Cell Corporation Doses Tenth Patient in Parkinson's Disease Clinical Trial

Phase 1 complete - finally!
 

"The fourth subject of the third cohort, who was the twelfth and final subject of the phase 1 clinical study, was successfully transplanted with the highest dose of ISC-hpNSC® stem cells."

"Interim results of this study will be presented at the upcoming 2019 American Academy of Neurology 71st Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, PA on May 5th, 2019."

International Stem Cell Corporation Completes Enrollment and Dosing in its Parkinson's Disease Clinical Trial Other OTC:ISCO

Formal announcement of completion of the Phase 1 trial
 

This announcement has already been covered in another thread by ashleyk.
International Stem Cell Corporation

I'm covering it here as well to join it up with the many previous posts on this topic.

Some good news is that the results of the Phase 1 trial show safety, and possible efficacy.

Some bad news is that no plans were mentioned for a Phase 2 trial, only that "Patients will continue to be evaluated every six months for another five years in the study’s extension phase."

PNT article:
Parkinson's Stem Cell Therapy Shows Safety, Early Efficacy in Small Trial

Press release:
International Stem Cell Corporation Announces Successful Completion of Its Phase 1 Clinical Trial in Parkinson's Disease

"The quality of life of the patients as measured by the Parkinson's Disease Quality of Life Score-39 (PDQ-39) Summary Index, improved 43% for the second cohort at twelve months post-transplantation. This improved to a 45% better score in cohort 2 at 48 months."

I think there is a typo there, in that "48 months" should probably be "24 months". It really can't be 48 months, since cohort 2 has only been observed for 36 months.

I must admit when I saw this thread title, as a Brit, I read Victorian as, during the reign of Queen Victoria!

Great to see the progress being made as reported in time over a long thread. Thanks for the updates jeffreyn