Last week a population of Oct4A positive stem cell-like cells were described in healthy and cancers prostates. The more undifferentiated the prostate cancer cells were, the higher number of these cells were present. This was interesting since these cells did not express "conventional" cancer stem cell markers such as CD133 and the drug efflux pump.
A patent #7,459,541 was issued on fusion proteins that specifically bind damaged tissue. These are fusions between a specific domain of vWF and various growth factors already in clinical use. This is an interesting one to look into for commercialization.
Another patent of interest, #7,459,152, was issued covering the use of erythropoietin to augment stem cell/neural transplants for treatment of Parkinson's.
Note: Next week's newsletter will be delivered on Tuesday.
This patent covers a series of fusion proteins that are generated with selectively to bind collagen. The inventors believe that since various forms of collagen are exposed during injury, the specific targeting of "repair" proteins to the injuried tissue will augment the healing process.
The tumor stem cell concept implies a small self-renewing population of cells in a tumor mass is responsible for maintaining the bulk of the tumor which comprises primarily of differentiated cells. This was demonstrated by O'Brien et al in the case of colon cancer in which only the small, quiescent, CD133 cells...
Student Society For Stem Cell Research - www.ssscr.org
SSSCR
Student Society For Stem Cell Research
We believe that stem cell research will revolutionize the field of medicine. With a coordinated and cooperative global effort, we can advance stem cell research in the most efficient manner.
