Dernière mise à jour: Août 17, 2026
The Shady Side of
Thérapie par cellules souches embryonnaires
Stephen Barrett, MARYLAND.
La thérapie par cellules souches est certainement un domaine de recherche prometteur. Les cellules souches ont la capacité de donner naissance à de nombreuses cellules spécialisées dans un organisme.. Certain types of stem cells are already used to restore blood-forming and immune system function after high-dose chemotherapy for some types of cancer, and several other restorative uses have been demonstrated. The broadest potential application is the generation of cells and tissues that could be used to repair or replace damaged organs. If scientists can learn how to control stem cell conversion into new, functionally mature cells, doctors might be able to cure many diseases for which therapy is currently inadequate [1,2]. Cependant, the claims made by commercial promoters go way beyond what is now likely and should be regarded with extreme skepticism. The main commercial sources have included Embryonic Tissues Center in the Ukraine; Stem Cell of America (formerly called Medra, Inc.) in Mexico; the Brain Therapeutics Medical Clinic (formerly called the Health Restoration Medical Center and the Brain Cell Therapeutic Clinic) in Mission Viejo, Californie; le Vita Nova Clinic in Barbados; and the Beijing Xishan Institute for Neuroregeneration and Functional Recovery in Beijing, Chine.
The Embryonic Tissues CenterEmCell
The Embryonic Tissues Center (EmCell) appears to be the oldest commercial source of embryonic stem cell therapy. Its proprietors, Alexander Smikodub, MARYLAND., doctorat, and Alexey Karpenko, MARYLAND., doctorat, are described as professors at National Medical University. The EmCell Web site claims:
Scientists at the center have been doing embryonic stem cell transplantation for 13 années, have performed 2,000 transplants, et avoir “the worlds largest clinical experience . . . in various diseases and conditions.” [3]
Smikodub was the “first in the world to introduce schemes of treatment of many diseases of internal illnesses . . . involving embryonic cell suspensions of mesenchymal, ectodermal, and endodermal origin.” [3]
The cells used at the the clinic “do not possess antigenic properties, making rejection impossible.” [5]
No negative side effects were observed [4].
“Curative effects of Embryonic Stem Cell Transplantation in numerous diseases are far beyond the possibilities of any other modern method.” [6]
Shortly after transplantation, expérience des patients “increased vigor, improved feeling of inner strength, belief in favorable result in treatment, absence of depression, improvement of mood and mental creativity.” [7]
“Restored functional activity of impaired and damaged internal organs and tissues leads to steady recovery.” [7]
The treatment has achieved “positive results” in cancer, sida, diabète, sclérose en plaques, La maladie de Crohn, and more than 50 other diseases and conditions [8].
Cell therapy contributes to “antitumoral immunity” and can be used to prevent disease as well as relapses and metastases [9].
How credible are these claims? How are the cells prepared? Are steps taken to ensure that they are not infectious? How was it determined that patients have no side effects? Does the clinic follow its patients and keep score? Have enough cancer patients to determine 5-year survival rates? Have Smikodub and Karpenko published their results? Do their theories and methodology make sense?
The ALS Therapy Development Foundation has been monitoring claims that fetal stem cell infusions might be effective against amyotropic lateral sclerosis (La maladie de Lou Gehrig). Its Web site states that two American physicians (Mitchell Ghen, D.O., and Dan Cosgrove, MARYLAND.) have treated patients in a “new and untested way,” but so far no conclusions could be drawn about effectiveness. Foundation documents also note that (un) some patients have experienced flu-like symptoms, (b) three patients have had dark-colored urine that may signify hemolytic anemia and/or kidney damage, et (c) it is not clear whether the cellules souches are actually surviving long enough to have an effect [10,11]. En mars 2003, the FDA seized records at Ghen’s clinic and Cosgrove said he had stopped offering the treatment [12]. Cryobanks International, which had supplied the cells to Ghen and Cosgrove, stopped doing so after the FDA contacted them [13].
Le ALS Foundation has also investigated the Cell Therapy Clinic by talking with a staff physician, sending a detailed follow-up questionnaire, and talking with several former patients. The Foundation’s report states:
EmCell did not answer many of the questions, and in some areas refused to elaborate on important details such as their method for screening against the AIDS or hepatitis viruses in the cells or their method of cell extraction.
We also asked . . . questions that focused on how they were able to report on patients who have benefited from the treatment. They were not willing to explain their conclusions or how they reached them.
We have not found any data that suggests that the methodology used by EmCell is scientifically reasonable, or that it is helping ALS patients. Although the Foundation has not received any reports of ALS patients being harmed by EmCell, the Foundation has not received any verifiable reports of improvement following EmCell treatment either.
Thérapie par cellules souches is being pursued by a number of credible institutions around the world and ALS-TDF is working with many of the leaders in that area. EmCell’s $15,000 stem cell therapy bears very little resemblance to what is currently being done in leading institutions around the world.
One of the main elements that makes EmCell’s approach different from these leading institutions is their method of delivery. EmCell is injecting fetal stem cells into the abdomen and veins of patients. This approach is similar to the therapy that has been offered in Mexico, in which they have been using bovine stem cells as a cell source. Cependant, those who visited these Mexican clinics have not shown any measurable benefit that we know of to date.
EmCell suggested to us that the number of cells does not matter since the cells will divide once they are in the body. If EmCell believes this is true, this raises a significant red flag since the effect of every credible thérapie par cellules souches tried to date has been, en partie, dependent on the number of cells injected. Dose does matter, and it indicates there is a lack of understanding on the part of EmCell about how stem cells work.
EmCell suggests that these stem cells DO NOT draw the attention of the immune system. This is another red flag. It is well known that the immune system will generally eliminate any foreign cell, especially in the peripheral system where EmCell is transplanting the cells. Newly injected cells are very unlikely to live very long without some form of immune suppression. Dans les expériences actuelles sur les cellules souches aux États-Unis, les médicaments immunosuppresseurs sont généralement utilisés.
La plupart des scientifiques . . . je ne crois pas qu'il soit plausible d'injecter un nombre limité de cellules dans l'abdomen et de les faire voyager dans le cerveau d'une manière qui pourrait aider dans la SLA.
EmCell ne semble pas avoir mis en place un véritable mécanisme de suivi pour identifier les améliorations et les déclins chez leurs patients après leur retour chez eux. Après avoir discuté avec plusieurs patients qui ont visité la clinique, il est clair qu'aucune évaluation n'a été faite de leur état physique ou neurologique. Il est suspect qu'ils fassent des déclarations d'amélioration pour un groupe entier de personnes qui n'ont pas été suivies d'une manière qui pourrait générer des revendications viables. [14].
En août 2003, J'ai fait des recherches sur Medline pour voir si Smikodub ou Karpenko avaient publié des rapports sur leurs patients dans des revues médicales à comité de lecture.. Je n'en ai trouvé aucun qui semblait pertinent par rapport aux allégations curatives décrites ci-dessus..
Stem Cell of America (formerly called Medra, Inc.)
Le principal commercialisateur américain de thérapie par cellules souches embryonnaires est William C.. Radeur, MARYLAND., un psychiatre à Malibu, Californie, qui dirigeait des cliniques du Rader Institute spécialisées dans le traitement des troubles de l'alimentation. Pour $25,000 (câblé à l'avance), Rader organisera un traitement dans sa clinique mexicaine. Dans le passé, il a également fait affaire sous les noms de Mediquest Ltd., Fondation tchèque, Institut Dulcinée, Ltd., et Médra, Inc.. Un message posté au Groupe Yahoo Cellules Souches indique qu'avant d'ouvrir sa propre clinique (dans 1997 aux Bahamas), Rader a accompagné les patients à la clinique ukrainienne. Comme EmCell, Rader has claimed that his fetal stem cell treatment is not antigenic and has no side effects. Dans un 1997 document, he stated:
Because fetal cells uniquely do not have antigenicity, they can be given to anyone with no reaction, no rejection, immunusuppressive drug therapy, or any side effects whatsoever. When a patient receives fetal fresh cell therapy (usually given intravenously over a few hours. . . ), the first action of cells is to stimulate the cells already present in the recipient’s system, making them more potent. Then they actually replace the recipient’s immune cells and, eventually engraft, which means they actually continually grow more fetal cells, resulting in a new and stronger immune system [15].
With respect to cancer, Rader has claimed that his treatment enables chemotherapy and radiation to continue longer and virtually eliminate their side effects [15]. Medra’s “Factsheet” claimed:
The fetal stem cell searches out, detects and then attempts to repair any damage or deficit discovered, as well as releases growth factors, which stimulate the body’s own repair mechanisms. . . .
A partial list of diseases includes:
Alzheimers, Anémie, Autisme, Brain damage, Cancer, Paralysie cérébrale, Syndrome de fatigue chronique, Dépression, Diabète, Diverticulite, Épilepsie, Impuissance, Immune Suppression, Leucémie, Sclérose en plaques, Parkinsons, Polyarthrite rhumatoïde, Anémie falciforme, Lésion de la moelle épinière, Accident vasculaire cérébral, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Ulcerative Colitis. . . .
Rarely has a single treatment modality offered so much promise to those suffering from some of mankind’s worst afflictions [16].
Rader has also claimed that by “strengthening the immune system, fetal cells offer prevention from acquiring multiple diseases, y compris le cancer, where the fetal cells actually form an anti-cancer barrière qui devient un autre facteur anti-âge.” [13] je ne le crois pas. Afin d'étayer ces affirmations, des milliers de personnes devraient être suivies dans le cadre d'un essai contrôlé qui durerait de nombreuses années. La technologie des cellules souches n’existe pas depuis assez longtemps pour qu’une telle étude ait été réalisée.
grandir, Inc. “Factsheet” a identifié Rader comme directeur médical et “Prof. Albert Scheller, MARYLAND., doctorat” comme “chercheur scientifique en chef.” Recherche dans Medline, Je n’ai trouvé aucune publication de l’un ou de l’autre qui soit pertinente par rapport aux affirmations qu’ils ont formulées concernant le traitement de Medra.. Dans 2011, Medra a changé son nom pour Stem Cell of America et la clinique de Rader a été déplacée de la République dominicaine au Mexique.. Dans 2014, le Conseil médical de Californie a révoqué la licence médicale de Rader. Pendant la procédure, the board concluded that many of the claims Rader had made in his book, Blocked in the U.S.A, were false [17].
Beijing Xishan Institute for Neuroregeneration and Functional Recovery
The Beijing Xishan Institute for Neuroregeneration and Functional Recovery in Beijing, Chine, is offering stem cell treatment for spinal cord injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Alzheimers disease, paralysie cérébrale, accident vasculaire cérébral, Parkinsons disease and other neurodegenerative conditions. Its founder/director, Docteur. Hongyun Huang, is a neurosurgeon who did research on the biology of fetal cells at Rutgers University and New York University before returning to China. Huang says he injects patients with olfactory sheathing cells (OSCs) obtained from aborted fetuses. The Institute is reported to have treated hundreds of patients and to have thousands of people on its waiting list. Le coût serait dépassé $20,000 [18]. Dans 2003 Huang a rapporté son expérience avec 171 patients et a affirmé que la transplantation d'OEC peut améliorer la fonction neurologique de la moelle épinière des patients atteints de lésions médullaires, quel que soit leur âge [18]. Cependant, son rapport ne contient aucune donnée brute, fournit peu de détails sur les patients’ capacité fonctionnelle, n'a pas comparé les patients à des patients non traités, et limité les évaluations des patients à seulement 2 à 8 semaines après l'opération. Dans 2006, la revue Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair a publié un rapport détaillé sur ses résultats avec sept patients que les auteurs ont examinés avant et une ou plusieurs fois dans l'année qui a suivi le traitement de Huang.. Les auteurs ont conclu: (un) cinq des sept patients ont eu des complications importantes (trois avaient une méningite), (b) aucun des patients n'a montré de preuve objective d'amélioration, et (c) unless Huang conducts a proper study, patients would be ill-advised to undergo his treatment [20]. A report in the Boston Globe noted that Huang’s website includes profiles of patients he has treated for a wide variety of conditions with different causes and different symptoms, yet Huang treats them all with the same cells [18].
Other Clinics
At least two other clinics have advertised traitement des cellules souches. The Brain Therapeutics Medical Clinic is run by David Steenblock, D.O., who claims to have “put together a number of growth factors and natural products that are known to promote and protect new brain cells” and calls stem cell therapy a “new and exciting treatment for brain regeneration.” The clinic’s Web site states that Steenblock “has devoted many years to research in the fields of biochemistry, pathologie, nerve and muscle physiology, cardiovascular disease and other diseases of aging.” Yet a Medline search shows that his only mainstream journal publications were three co-authored articles about clotting factors in dogs and guinea pigsall published in the late 1960s when he worked as a laboratory research assistant during his osteopathic training. Dans 1994, after being charged with negligently treating two patients, Steenblock signed a stipulation under which he admitted failing to adequately document their management and had failed to issue a warning about possible side effects of an injection he had administered to one of them. He was assessed $10,000 and placed oin five years’ probation under which he was required to take extra continuing education courses in pharmacology, medical charting, and ethics [21]. Dans 1995, after the door to his hyperbaric oxygen chamber blew out (injuring three persons), investigators noted that he was using three unlicensed persons as “physical therapy assistants.” [Subsequent charges that he had violated his probation resulted in extending his probation for another three months and assessment of another $3,500 in costs [22].
The Vita Nova Clinic offers thérapie par cellules souches designed and administered by Professor Yuliy V. Baltaytis, MARYLAND, Doctorat, DSc. The Vita Nova site claims that Baltaytis has written six books and over 200 scientific articles and has successfully treated patients with arthritis, Alzheimer, cancer, diabète, leucémie, and many other conditions. Cependant, he has no publications indexed in Medline and is not mentioned on any other Web site (which I would expect if he had significant scientific standing). I see no more reason to trust him or Steenblock than there is to trust the others mentioned above.
Dans 2009, a team of Israeli scientists reported that a teenage boy had developed tumors of his brain and spine four years after beginning stem cell treatment at a Russian clinic. The tumors appear to have been derived from the transplanted stem cells. The boy has a rare neurological disease that local doctors say could not have been helped by stem-cell therapy [23].
Cord Blood Banking
The Cord Blood Registry (Cbr), headquartered in San Bruno, Californie. provides processing and storage of stem cells from umbilical cord blood for potential future use by the child or family members. Dans 2010, its fees were $2,195 initially and $125 per year for storage after the first year. Cryobanks International, located in Alamonte Springs, Floride, offers what appears to be similar services. C'est 2010 fees were $1,399 for the first year and $120 per year after that, with discounts available for long-term prepayment.
Cbr’s Web site states that stem cells are being used to treat a variety of cancers and blood disorders and that research shows possible value against Alzheimer’s disease, La maladie de Parkinson, et les maladies cardiaques. It also states that, “Saving your baby’s cord blood . . . can be lifesaving to your family.” [24] Cependant, The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) states there is no strong evidence to recommend routine cord blood banking for an infant’s future use. It’s 2007 position statement on that subject states:
No accurate estimates exist of the likelihood of children to need their own stored cells. The range of available estimates is from 1 dans 1,000 à plus de 1 dans 200,000. For this and other reasons, il est difficile de recommander aux parents de conserver le sang de cordon de leurs enfants pour une utilisation future.
Compte tenu de la difficulté d’évaluer la nécessité d’utiliser ses propres cellules de sang de cordon pour une transplantation, stockage privé de sang de cordon “assurance biologique” n'est pas sage. Cependant, la banque doit être envisagée s’il y a un membre de la famille ayant besoin actuel ou potentiel de subir une greffe de cellules souches. Par exemple, des conditions telles que la leucémie ou une hémoglobinopathie grave peuvent indiquer la nécessité d'une banque de sang de cordon dirigée par un donneur pour une transplantation de sang de cordon entre frères et sœurs [25].
D'autres ont noté que les personnes qui reçoivent leurs propres cellules souches pourraient être sujettes à répéter la même maladie.. En mars 2004, La Lettre Médicale conclue: “À l'heure actuelle, Il est peu probable que le stockage privé du sang de cordon ombilical en vaille la peine. Les parents devraient être encouragés à contribuer, quand ils le peuvent, aux banques de cordon publiques à la place.” [26]
L'essentiel
Bien que la thérapie par cellules souches ait quelques applications pratiques et soit très prometteuse, il n'y a aucune raison de croire qu'EmCell, grandir, le Clinique médicale de thérapie cérébrale, Vita Nova, le Xishan de Pékin Institut de neurorégénération et de récupération fonctionnelle, ou toute autre clinique commerciale de cellules souches le fournit en tant que service légitime. Leurs théories et méthodes sont simplistes; leurs traitements peuvent avoir des effets indésirables; ils n'offrent aucune donnée crédible sur les résultats; et leurs promesses vont bien au-delà de ce qui est désormais possible.
Les banques de sang de cordon ont certaines utilisations légitimes mais semblent être un mauvais investissement, sauf pour les personnes qui (un) avoir un proche atteint d’une maladie pour laquelle l’efficacité du sang de cordon a été démontrée ou (b) sont assez riches pour se permettre de parier plus que $3,000 sur un long plan.
Références
Bases des cellules souches. Site Web du NIH, consulté en septembre 24. 2009.
Qu’espérez-vous obtenir de la recherche sur les cellules souches pluripotentes humaines ?? Site Web de l'Institut national de la santé, Avril 26, 2000.
Transplantation de cellules souches embryonnaires: 13 années d'expérience clinique. Site Internet d'EmCell, consulté en juin 19, 2006.
Contexte historique de la transplantation de cellules souches embryonnaires. Site Internet d'EmCell, consulté en juin 19, 2006.
Caractéristiques de la transplantation de cellules souches embryonnaires. Site Internet d'EmCell, consulté consulté en juin 19, 2006.
Principaux effets curatifs de greffe de cellules souches embryonnaires. Site Internet d'EmCell, consulté consulté en juin 19, 2006.
Principaux effets et spécificités de greffe de cellules souches embryonnaires. Site Internet d'EmCell, consulté consulté en juin 19, 2006.
La liste des affections et maladies, où nous avons postulé greffe de cellules souches embryonnaires avec des résultats positifs. Site Internet d'EmCell, consulté consulté en juin 19, 2006.
Expérience dans le traitement des patients en oncologie. Site Internet d'EmCell, consulté consulté en juin 19, 2006.
Examen du sang de cordon. Site Internet sur la SLA, Déc 2002.
Que se passe-t-il avec le sang de cordon. Site Internet ALS-TDF, Déc 2002.
Wahlberg D.. La FDA étudie un médecin spécialisé dans la SLA, traitement. Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Mars 29, 2003.
Hundley K.. Déchets médicaux miniers. St. Petersburg Times May 12, 2003.
Review of EmCell by ALS-TDF. Site Internet ALS-TDF, Juin 2002.
Rader W. Documents faxed in 1997.
Fetal stem cell therapy factsheet. Peut 2004.
Decision after non-adoption. In the matter iof the accusation against William C. Radeur, MARYLAND. Medical Board of California Case No. 20-2010-205857, Octobre 6, 2014.
Cook G. Chinese surgeon’s claims about cell implants disputed. Boston Globe, Juin 19, 2006.
Huang H and others. Influence of patients’ age on functional recovery after transplantation of olfactory ensheathing cells into injured spinal cord injury. Chinese Medical Journal 116:1488-1491, 2003.
Dobkin BH and others. Cellular transplants in China: observational study from the largest human experiment in chronic spinal cord injury. Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair 20:5-13, 2006.
Barrett S. Regulatory action against David Steenblock, D.O. (1993-1994) Quackwatch, Mars 31, 2004.
Barrett S. Regulatory action against David Steenblock, D.O. (1997-2000). Quackwatch. Mars 31, 2004.
Amariglio N and others. Donor-derived brain tumor following neural stem cell transplantation in an ataxia telangiectasia patient. PLoS Med 6(2): e1000029. est-ce que je:10.1371/journal. pmed.1000029.
CBR home page, accessed Sept 9, 2010.
Policy Statement: Cord blood banking for potential future transplantation. Pédiatrie 119:165-170, 2007.
Private cord blood banks. The Medical Letter 46:21-22, 2004.
This article was revised on April 5, 2015.
Balises, keywords:Thérapie par cellules souches embryonnaires,EmCell
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