[medinformatics] Stem cell booster drug may prove a help to cancer patients

[Medical Informatics News]

Filed under: Prevention*There may be some new hope on the horizon for cancer patients. A current drug,
GSK-3 inhibitor,
used to treat
Alzheimer's and diabetes may be useful in treating cancer. Currently scientists at the Krembil Centre for Stem Cell Biology in London are using the drug on mice to treat certain types of cancer. The excitement about the*
GSK-3 inhibitor revolves around stem cells taken from the umbilical cord to treat cancer.*
"The ability to get better regeneration affords you the ability to
deliver more aggressive therapy and the chances of killing the tumour
are far, far greater," said Mick Bhatia, director of the centre at the
Robarts Research Institute.Current cancer treatments invlove chemotherapy that kills both good and bad cells within the body. A bone marrow transplant is often needed to help the patient. The bone marrow contains stem cells. By foregoing the chemo and skipping straight to the stem cells, researchers are hoping to help cancer patients remain healthier during the process of healing. The problem with using cord stem cells is that there just aren't enough of them for a grown human. By using the
GSK-3 inhibitor the power is nearly tripled to help with healing.


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