One of the more exciting treatment options undergoing trials these days it the utilization of stem cells. This thread will be dedicated to providing information about stem cells as a treatment option. It will be a collaborative effort. If you have information about stem cell therapy, please respond to this thread with it and we'll edit it in (when possible, please reference/link to sources of your information). We will also use this thread as a place to track other stem cell threads until it become popular enough to warrant its own subforum. If you see other stem cell threads pop up, please link them here.

Other Stem Cell Threads

- Guest9283's Stem Cell Journey
- The Exciting Breakthrough You're Missing
- Seeking Stem Cell Overview
- Adrian Mcdonnell's Stem Cell Transplant
- effdee's Stem Cell Treatment Blog
- jmcbrid2's stem cell journey
- Stem Cells

I just got back last week from getting stem cell replacement. It was beyond the most amazing thing. I don't regret it one bit!!!!

Where did you get the therapy?

I am currently waiting to see if I'm a candidate for the stem cell transplant. If I am, I will let you all know how it goes. My blog is updated all the time and will tell you about my daily journey and what I'm doing to get the SCT. www.lifeofacrohnie.blogspot.com

brianncc said:

Where did you get the therapy?

The stem cell transplant trial is done by Dr Richard Burt at Northwestern Memorial in Chicago.

In order to be considered as a candidate, you have to have Crohn's disease for atleast 5 years, failed all other conventional treatments, and be severe enough to warrant this radical of a procedure. Go to Northwestern's website and request more info if you think you may be a candidate

Now wouldn't it also make sense to also try stem cell therapy on somewhat-healthy Crohn's sufferers? For example, in my case I was diagnosed in '07, quickly flew through drugs like Pentasa, 6-Merc, Apriso, and Lialda, now taking Remicade. I've got severe inflammation but have yet to need something so serious as surgery. Would it make sense to still contact them just for information or to see what they say?

It wouldn't hurt Patrick. The worst thing they can say is no or point you in another direction.

Osiris just annonced Prochymal will be market for GVHD in Canada in 22 of May. it does means crohn will be next...

Finally!! I have found the stem cell thread!! I am currently on thalidomide but when my year is up I have been offered stem cell transplant, and I cannot wait!! I realise that the preparation is grim but to have such normality after it is worth the chemo IMO. I will be back with updates, I'm so pleased to have found others going through this process

That's fantastic keeleyann! Please do keep us updated

lost_messiah said:

Osiris just annonced that Prochymal is in the market for Canada for GVHD in 22 of May. it does means crohn is will be next...

Can someone explain what this means?

SidS said:

Can someone explain what this means?

Yes, it would appear that this medication is in process of being licenced for crohns, having passed preclinical and being fast tracked by FDA. I live in UK, so am unfamiliar with this medication but in my career as a nurse I've seen this kind of thing for other meds and definitely believe that to be the case.

Hello, is this available in the uk? Looks like people getting it done are happy with what's happening!

Best friend 91 (Fay)

I will also be interested if its being done in the UK, anymore info?

Seattle Times posted an article today under the local section....
New hope for Crohn's patients: immune-system transplants
& the link for more detailed information on the study is below.

http://studies.fhcrc.org/cats/

heidit68 said:

Seattle Times posted an article today under the local section....
New hope for Crohn's patients: immune-system transplants
& the link for more detailed information on the study is below.

http://studies.fhcrc.org/cats/

http://mobile.seattletimes.com/story...4/track-.-.-./

Stem cell transplant is different to a bone marrow transplant I thought? But still good news for worst off. But will take years for UK to provide it.

Today, a bone marrow transplant is more commonly called a stem cell transplant because it is the blood stem cells that are typically being transplanted, not the actual bone marrow tissue.

Types of stem cell transplantation

There are two main types of transplantation: autologous transplantation (also known as an AUTO) and allogeneic transplantation (also known as an ALLO). A patient undergoing an AUTO transplant receives his or her own stem cells. On the other hand, a patient undergoing an ALLO transplant receives cells from another person. Regardless of the source of the stem cells, a transplant is performed by infusing, or transfusing, the collected stem cells into the patient's vein. The stem cells then remain in the bloodstream for about 24 hours until they find their way to the marrow space, where they grow and multiply, beginning the healing process.

Ahh thats why I was confused, thought stem was your own cells and bone marrow was someone elses. Thought bone marrow would be more painful for donor?

Harvesting bone marrow requires puncturing bone, so I'd imagine it can be quite painful. Harvesting stem cells from someone would require chemotherapy, though, so it's still quite involved.

Hi guys
is there any statistics on the rate of remission for Stem cell Therapy (auto)
I believe from what I read is that it can cure you, or give remission up to a certain time.
I read a few articles from 2001, and it seems there still in remission. Can someone give me more in depth info please.
Thanks

I am also having a stem cell transplant for my Crohns. You have to be referred to Dr Burt at Northwestern Memorial in Chicago by your GI after trying absolutely all other conventional treatments and all that is left is surgery. They'll evaluate you and determine your eligibility. Then go from there. They are now doing pretty much donor only cells since Crohns is an immune disorder, using your own stem cells would almost guarantee recurrence of your Crohns. They prefer using sibling donor cells because they regraft easier. They don't use bone marrow anymore. Your donors cells are retrieved via a vein in their neck. Follow my thread and you will get details about the process as I go through it!

Here is an article I read on a US website and originally appeared in the Beeb.

bbc.co.uk/news/health-19111700

(This is only my second post so I can't post a hyperlink, sorry)

It basically says that cancer patients going through chemotherapy develop a resistance to the chemotherapy (or the tumor cells in your body do.) It can also create an undesired response in healthy cells.

Just curious if anyone had any thoughts on how this might affect the stem cell transplant treatment for Crohn's where the patient goes through chemotherapy first.

It seems like if it causes proteins to grow exponentially too quickly you might get cured of Crohn's and get cancer at the same time.

?

What kind of preparations are there for a stem cell transplant? I have heard it can be pretty painful, is this true?

So far they don't see any cancer risks for this type of stem cell transplant but it's still relatively new so we don't know until it's been tested. The procedure is not painful because the donor cells are retrieved via blood from a vein in the neck and it is infused intravenously as well! Hope that helps!!

Moe. said:

Hi guys
is there any statistics on the rate of remission for Stem cell Therapy (auto)
I believe from what I read is that it can cure you, or give remission up to a certain time.
I read a few articles from 2001, and it seems there still in remission. Can someone give me more in depth info please.
Thanks

Moe, company declared Prochymal reduce 105 point of CDAI rate after 28 days start therapy. Patient's CDAI rate were 350.

Here is the queote

Trial Design

10 patient, prospective, randomized, open label trial
Average CDAI was 350
Average length of disease was 14 years
Failed previous treatment with steroids, methotrxate, and Remicade

Efficacy Results

Every patient evaluated had a reduction in disease severity by day 28
105 point improvement in CDAI (p=0.004)

I am a recent allogenic stem cell transplant recipient. While I cannot offer you statistics I can tell you about my experience and what the doctor has told me. In my case, there aren't enough long term studies to determine any 100% guaranteed results. But there should be an instant minimal improvement in symptoms post transplant, every day getting better. By the 6 month mark, the tests should show significant reduction in inflammation. And all of this will be achieved without Crohn's medications. I personally have had huge success but you can follow my transplant in detail on my Crohn's forum thread (see my profile) or my blog lifeofacrohnie.blogspot.com

Hope this helps!!

Thanks for sharing jmc. While dd hasn't been "sick enough" on the CDAI scale to qualify for the pediatric trial, I am closely following this option as we narrowly missed a colectomy this fall. Please keep us posted!!

I am recovering incredibly from my stem cell transplant! I feel amazing!! If you have questions just ask!

So glad that you are feeling well and keep us posted as time goes on how you are doing clinically...I am super interested in hearing the results!! Hoping if/when Tacro starts causing SE for dd this is an option for us...