Doctors don't promise cure with stem cell therapy

MANILA, Philippines – Amid the recent warning issued by the Department of Health (DOH) regarding stem cell therapy, doctors who are offering the treatment in the Philippines clarified that they are not promising a cure.

“We are very careful about claiming cure. These days ang dami nagsasalita, nawala ang sakit. All of a sudden siya (stem cell therapy) na ‘yung magic bullet ng buong mundo, like if you get stem cell, you get cured,” said Dr. Michelle de Vera, deputy director of the Institute of Personalized Molecular Medicine at The Medical City.

“Kapag may narinig na ganyan dapat lalo silang mag-ingat. Cure is zero evidence of disease or kung genetic ‘yung disease dapat napalitan ‘yung genes mo. Hindi mangyayari ‘yun at this point," he stressed.

De Vera, an allergologist and immunologist, does stem cell therapy on her patients at The Medical City but he said he believes that the DOH is right in warning patients on stem cell therapy.

“Tama naman na magbigay sila ng warning,I think what their trying to do is regulate stem cell therapy,” the doctor said.

Public advisory

The DOH recently came out with a public advisory on stem cell therapies saying that there is an "observed proliferation of ‘centers’ offering stem cell treatments for medical and aesthetic purpose, and although this technology holds promise, stem cell therapy is not yet part of the standard of care and is considered an investigative procedure for compassionate use."

The DOH further stated that "applications of stem cells for the treatment of malignancies, blood disorders, degenerative diseases (e.g. Alzhimer's), metaboloc diseases (eg diabetes), and immune cell therapy are still under clinical evaluation and study."

“I did not say it doesn't work but it takes a while, a lot of experiments and clinical studies before it is considered a standard of care in medicine,” clarified Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona.

Ona also added in his statement that "the public is strongly advised to avoid stem cell therapies which use the following as sources for stem cells: embryonic stem cells, aborted fetuses, genetically-altered and animal fresh cells."

Not from animals

The Medical City has been offering stem cell treatment since 2005 and had more than 300 patients, most of them for the treatment of cancer.

De Vera explained that they use human stem cells, which come from the bone marrow of the patient or umbilical cord, and warns against stem cells coming from animals like cows or sheep, as well as companies abroad offering a spa-like experience.

"Our choice of sources, we know it's safe kasi galing din sa ‘yo," she said.

But while stem cell therapy is not yet a standard of care, it doesn't mean that it does not work, the doctor said, although she added that doctors who administer it offer no guarantees.

"’Yung iba, sobrang ganda ng effect sa kanila, yung iba naman not so much, it's very personal, very dependent on every person," she said.

De Vera also said that the science behind stem cell therapy is sound, noting that all humans have stem cells which the body uses to heal itself.

"If you give stem cells to a person, pumupunta naman talaga sila sa injured organ, nakaka-repair na talaga sila, hindi na yun theory, meron ebidensya," she explained.

De Vera also claimed that their patients have improved symptoms. "In certain cancer cases with combined standard of care like chemo or radiation therapy, we have made patients cancer-free in terms of markers or imaging for tumors," she added.

According to the doctor, they also do stem cell therapy for aesthetic purposes. "Inherently the stem cell has anti-inflammatory properties, it repairs injury. May evidence that skin has rejuvenated or regenerated. But it doesn't mean hindi ka na tatanda. Cells will eventually age. ‘Di naman infinite ang buhay nya," she said.

Among The Medical City's patients are celebrity couple Albert and Liezl Martinez -- he for aesthetic purposes, while she for breast cancer. Liezel is now reportedly cancer-free.

The DOH said the department will soon issue guidelines for the use of stem cell therapy and the process of licensing facilities offering such services.

"Maybe in two to three weeks," said Ona.

source: abs-cbnnews.com