‘Stem cell therapy not cure-for-all medical treatment’

MANILA, Philippines - Amid the growing popularity of stem cell therapy as medical treatment, St. Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC) has cautioned the public against risky stem cell treatment.

The SLMC, one of the leading medical facilities in the country, said stem cell therapy is yet to be proven as a “cure-for-all” medical procedure as it is being touted about.

“Facilities that offer stem cell treatments tout stem cell therapy as a panacea for all ailments as they repair, restore, replace and regenerate cells. However, such treatments can be potentially harmful since many of these treatments are still under experiment or have yet to pass the rigors of clinical trials,” said Dr. Joven Cuanang, SLMC senior vice president for medical affairs and chief medical officer.

Cuanang said SLMC is firm on it stand to use and make available stem cell therapies that have been established as safe after rigorous, long-term clinical research.

“Our institution at this time will use stem cells as a standard treatment only when there are data to show its clinical outcomes, its safety features,” Cuanang said.

For the past years, Cuanang said, use of stem cell therapies have grown rapidly in the country, as facilities offering such treatment promise virtual cure for a wide range of conditions, including aging to improving libido.

Stem cell therapy has also been touted to heal incurable diseases such as cancer or degenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, and multiple sclerosis, among others.

Earlier, the Department of Health (DOH) came out with new guidelines regulating the practice of stem cell therapy in the country.

Medical experts supported the new guidelines as they cautioned the public against availing themselves of the services of spas and parlors that are now offering bogus stem cell therapy and products.

Cuanang said the SLMC only offers stem cell therapies that have been established as safe and effective and used in reputable international medical institutions to ensure the safety of patients.

He said stem cell therapies at SLMC are now used as standard care for leukemias such as acute leukemia, chronic myolegenous leukemia, and myelodysplastic syndrome; myeloma; lymphomas; non-malignant hematologic diseases; and other bone marrow diseases.

The St. Luke’s International Eye Institute also treats some ocular surface diseases using stem cells, he said.

“All other disease indications for stem cell and gene therapy remain to be on a clinical research level, as there are no long-term studies, even abroad, to present to patients who are seeking them out,” Cuanang said.

He said the SLMC has organized a network of basic and clinical practitioner scientists to gather data on stem cell treatments through clinical research to help the public make an informed decision to use stem cell therapy.

The SLMC is also in the process of establishing guidelines in the use of stem cells derived from adult skin, fat, bone marrow, and other possible sources to address various medical conditions.

“Once completed, this will help the public choose apt and effective stem cell treatments,” Cuanang said.

At this time, the SLMC has been able to establish clinical protocols for Alzheimer’s disease and spinal cord injuries, the results of which will be presented to the public when sufficient data have been gathered.

Cuanang said the SLMC has also started enrolling patients with solid malignant tumors on immunotherapy, gene therapy, and other innovative treatment programs, aside from the hospital’s well-established comprehensive cancer diagnosis.