Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:44:4
Ayinde O. Chase - AHN Editor
Irvine, CA (AHN) - According to researchers human embryonic stem cells could help people with learning and memory deficits after radiation treatment for brain tumors. Research with rats has found that transplantation alleviates the side effects of radiotherapy.
The new UC Irvine study analyzed data in treated rats and found transplanted stem cells restored learning and memory to normal levels four months after radiotherapy. In other tests irradiated rats that didn't receive stem cells experienced a more than 50 percent drop in cognitive function.
"Our findings provide the first evidence that such cells can be used to ameliorate radiation-induced damage of healthy tissue in the brain," said Charles Limoli, UCI radiation oncology associate professor and senior author of the study.
Medical personnel tasked with using radiotherapy say using the treatment for brain tumors is limited by how well the surrounding tissue tolerates the procedure. Varying degrees of radiation needed to treat tumors, has differing levels of learning and memory impairment for the patient. This in turns affects their quality of life down the road.
"It's a progressive, debilitating side effect of cranial irradiation," Limoli said. "Any treatments showing promise at reversing this are worthy of pursuit."
In the UCI study, stem cells were transplanted into the heads of rats that had undergone radiation treatment. They migrated to a brain region known to support the growth of neurons, scientists observed, and developed into new brain cells.
Further studies related to the subject will examine how the transplanted stem cells improved cognition, whether it was by integrating into healthy tissue or if they repaired and aided existing brain cells.
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