Australian scientists have developed a new method for harvesting stem cells, which, they claim, is less invasive and reduces side effects for donors. Stem cells are routinely harvested from healthy donors and used to treat patients suffering from a variety of cancers including leukemia.
The current method for harvesting these stem cells takes a long time and also requires the injection of donors with growth factors to help boost the numbers of the stem cells. Some donors experience unwanted side effects from the injection of growth factors.
The new method reduces the time needed to obtain a supply of stem cells and does away with the use of the growth factor. The new method was developed by a team of researchers working within the manufacturing arm of Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) with the Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute (ARMI) at Monash. It combines a newly discovered molecule (known as BOP), with an existing type of molecule (AMD3100) to mobilize the stem cells found in bone marrow out into the blood stream.
CSIRO researcher Susie Nilsson, M.D., said her team was able to demonstrate that combining the two molecules directly impacts stem cells so they can be seen in the blood stream within an hour of giving a patient a single dosage. Nilsson said that a procedure that once took days can be reduced to around an hour.
“Current treatment requires the patient to have growth factor injections for several days leading up to the procedure, ” Nilsson said. Until now AMD3100 has only been effective in increasing stem cell numbers when combined with the growth factor. “But the growth factor can cause unpleasant side effects like bone pain and spleen enlargement for some patients, ” Nilsson warned. “Other donors simply don’t respond well, and their stem cell count never gets high enough for a successful transplant.”
The scientists found that combining the two small molecules not only eliminates the need for the growth factor, but when the harvested cells are transplanted they can replenish the entire bone marrow system, and there are no known side effects.
Professor Peter Currie, ARMI Director, said a major benefit of the discovery is that harvesting stem cells will become more efficient and effective, considerably reducing the stress for donors. “We’re looking forward to seeing patients benefit from this discovery.”
