Jefferson Urologists Studying Regenerated Neo-Bladder to Help Spinal
Cord Injury Patients
Urologists at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital are studying
whether a neo-bladder construct grown from a patient's own cells can
improve bladder function for adult spinal cord injury patients.
Jefferson is only one of six sites in the U.S. enrolling participants
in this clinical trial for the lab-grown neo-bladder construct that
will involve a total of 10 patients.
"It's never been done in adults before," said primary investigator
Patrick Shenot, M.D., instructor in Urology, Jefferson Medical
College of Thomas Jefferson University, noting that a similar study
is being conducted with children with spina bifida.
The neo-bladder constructs are being developed by Tengion, Inc. in
their pilot manufacturing facility.
Each neo-bladder construct consists of a biodegradable scaffold
seeded with urothelial and smooth muscle cells cultured in Tengion's
facility from the patient's own bladder cells.
To participate in the study, a patient must be 18 to 65 years of age,
have had a spinal cord injury for more than a year and diagnosed with
a neurogenic bladder that is not adequately responding to medical
therapy.
The urologist first performs a biopsy on the patient to retrieve the
cells. The cells are then sent to Tengion's manufacturing facility
where they are grown in culture and then seeded onto a biodegradable
scaffold in the shape of a bladder.
Then, the patient returns to hospital and the urologist will implant
the neo-bladder construct in a procedure known as augmentation
cystoplasty or bladder augmentation.
"The neo-bladder is expected to continue to regenerate within the
patient, using the body's inherent regenerative capabilities, and if
successful may result in improved bladder function," Dr. Shenot noted.
The field of regenerative medicine is anticipated to be an area of
intense interest and expansion in the coming years, said Dr. Shenot.
"While this first trial in adults is for patients with bladder
control problems due to spinal cord injury, the possibilities for
expansion into oncology related areas are promising," he said.
Media Only Contact:
Jeffrey A. Baxt
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
Phone: 215-955-6300
Published: 10-3-2007
http://www.jefferso
«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
StemCells subscribers may also be interested in these sites:
Children's Neurobiological Solutions
http://www.CNSfoundation.org/
Cord Blood Registry
http://www.CordBlood.com/at.cgi?a=150123
The CNS Healing Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CNS_Healing
____________________________________________
«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required)
Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch format to Traditional
Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe
__,_._,___
