|
Revolutionary Stem Cell Transplant in Athens a World First
Athens News Agency
26 July 2006
Revolutionary stem-cell transplant in Athens a world first
A baby-girl born in Athens last week will become the donor of stem cells taken
from the umbilical cord that will be transplanted to her 4-year-old brother
suffering from chronic granulomatous disease, a congenital heterogeneous
immunodeficiency disorder resulting from the inability of phagocytes to kill
intested microbes, resulting in increased susceptibility to severe infectionsthat ultimately leads to early death.
The procedure, the first in the world for this specific disease, is being
carried out by geneticist Costas Pangalos and gynecologist Costas Pantos.
Dr. Pantos told ANA-MPA that the parents of the ailing toddler's parents also
have a healthy older child. In the procedure, the mother's ova (eggs) are
fertilized in vitro. The fertilized ovaries then undergo a PGD (Preimplantation
Genetic Diagnosis) to ascertain which fertilized ova are free of this specific
hereditary disease, as well as a histocompatibility test for compatibility with
the ailing child. The disease-free, compatible ovum is than implanted into the
woman's uterus.
Pantos explained that the procedure was revolutionary given that no blood or
other tissue was taken from the infant itself, but instead stem cells from the
blood contained in either the umbilical cord or the placenta -- both of which
are discarded after the birth takes place -- are used to save lives.
As soon as the stem-cell transplantat takes place at Athens’ Agia Sophia
Children’s Hospital in the following weeks, the countdown for the 4-year-old
boy will be halted, given the fact that the disease becomes fatal when the
patient reaches the age of 10-15.
A second baby will be born into another family in Ilioupolis, Athens, in seven
months' time for a similar reason. Again, the specialised tests conducted
before the in-vitro-fertilized ovum was implanted in the mother’s uterus came
out excellent like in the first case, according to Pangalos and Pantos.
According to Pangalos, this is a world-first and it is a major scientific
achievement showing that Greece has great technological potential. A single
cell can provide the information that an embryo is healthy and histocompatible,
a state or condition in which the absence of immunological interference permits
the grafting of tissue or the transfusion of blood without rejection, he said.
Only two or three research centers in the United States, one in France, an
Italian, a German and we, have the necessary technological capability?, added
Prof. Pangalos. ?From now on, the greatest application of this method will be
the treatment of children suffering from cancer. There are not enough donors,
and unfortunately children die. This method can save their lives?, he stressed.
Prof. Pangalos will announce this world first achievement by Greek doctors and
geneticists at the American Geneticists Conference in October.
|
