CEBU, Philippines - Stem cell therapy is an established treatment in the management of some hematologic malignancies only!
Dr. Ellie May B. Villegas in her Pink Cancer Chat on "Demystifying Myths and Fallacies of Bogus [Breast Cancer] Treatments," in relation to the observance of Pink October, pointed out that such ailments include leukemia and some auto-immune deficiencies.
Through a position statement on stem cell therapy made by the Philippine College of Physicians and the Philippine Society of Medical Oncologists, published through The Philippine Star last month, Dr. Villegas pointed out that "stem cell therapy for unproven indications pose serious safety issues to unknowing clients."
"A sari-sari store (variety store) in Boracay, for example, that's putting up a signage of stem cell therapy made available to customers is alarming. Stem cell therapy being advertised for breast cancer is another very alarming thing as it is not yet part of standard treatment. Or that any procedure is still on the experimental stage," Dr. Villegas addressed an audience of 500 at the Ayala Cinema 2 last October 5.
"Alarmed by these uncontrolled practices which may include false claims, misinformation and exorbitant fees, We, the undersigned presidents of medical professional organizations, push the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to issue stricter regulations on stem cell therapy and declare the following to serve as guidelines for the general public," the position paper read.
By "following," the doctors stressed that currently, stem cell therapy has been proven beneficial in very few medical conditions such as cancers of the blood and bone marrow, and some primary immune-deficiencies treated by autologous or allogenic stem cell transplants, and that stem cell therapy as a treatment for these conditions, should only be administered by trained professionals working in FDA-accredited facilities.
The second point is that the effectiveness and safety of stem cell therapy have yet to be proven in the following conditions: heart, lungs, neurologic, skin, rheumatologic, kidney and gastrointestinal diseases, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, autism, cancer, aging and aesthetics, HIV/AIDS, and other conditions.
Dr. Villegas, an oncologist, further pointed out in her talk that their group's position on the use of stem cell therapy for the abovementioned conditions "should be confined to clinical studies, that is, properly designed studies that have been screened and approved by a duly constituted technical review board and ethics committee."
"Such studies should in fact be encouraged so that the potential benefits of stem cell therapy in these conditions can be documented. When stem cell therapy is given under a clinical study, it is unethical to make patients pay for the treatment. The cost of treatments should be shouldered by the sponsor of the study."
"The problem with this proliferation of misinformation on stem cell therapy in the Philippines goes back to paid advertisements. Kaming mga doktor, di man gud mi pwede magpa-advertise, maong di kaayo mi ninyo paminawon," Dr. Villegas laments. She even cited of a TV personality promoting benefits of stem cell therapy in neurologic conditions, having a child with autism spectrum disorder. "How can we counter such an influential personality? Adto man mo motuo gud sa dili doktor. Adto sa commercial sa food supplements nga walay klarong clinical evidence," she added.
In relation to food supplements, whose manufacturers claim to have helped improve wellbeing of breast cancer patients, Dr. Jerry Tan Chun Bing brought the audience's attention to a cancer bulletin video produced by the US National Cancer Institute. It is about natural products collected from the sea, land, and microbial. These go through standard, sanitary procedures like grinding and extraction, and "harvested" by isolation chemists to further study the molecules responsible for biochemical activities. These substances go through wholesome assays to test chemical responses of materials in the extract.
"Please do not be deceived by promises of leading food supplement brands that their malunggay (moringa) oil, mangosteen pills, guyabano extract pills, and resviratrol extract pills are anti-cancer, because even if we know of the health benefits of the raw products, we do not have higher-level clinical evidence yet how these processed products react when taken together. Lacking pa ta'g human studies to support the claims. You might be putting your liver at risk, kay mausab man ang metabolism sa liver sa sige ninyog take sa supplements," the oncologist warned.
Finally, the associations urged the public to help stop those who seek to profit from the desperation and ignorance of others.
"We encourage you to be vigilant. Please report immediately the practice of stem cell therapy by persons or institutions not accredited by the FDA, promotion and use of stem cell therapy for unproven indications, and acceptance of payments for stem cell therapy when used for such unproven indications," Dr. Villegas urged.
Report it via (02) 910-2253 or through report@fda.gov.ph. (FREEMAN)