Cord Blood News Volume 2.15 | Apr 22 2010

May 12, 2022

Cord Blood News 2.15, April 22, 2010.

In this issue: Science News | Current Publications | Industry News | Policy News | Events

Cytotherapy with Naive Rat Umbilical Cord Matrix Stem Cells Significantly Attenuates Growth of Murine Pancreatic Cancer Cells and Increases Survival in Syngeneic Mice
Results indicate that naive rat umbilical cord matrix-derived stem cells alone remarkably attenuate the growth of pancreatic carcinoma cells in vitro and in a mouse peritoneal model. [Cytotherapy]

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SCIENCE NEWS

Stem Cells from Menstrual Blood May Benefit Stroke Patients
Cryo-Cell International, Inc. announced results of a study showing that stem cells found in menstrual blood may one day be a potential source for stem cell therapies in stroke and other central nervous system disorders. [Press release from Cryo-Cell International, Inc. discussing online prepublication in Stem Cells and Development]

“Vicious Circle” Offers New Acute Leukemia Treatment Target
Researchers have identified a self-feeding “vicious circle” of molecules that keeps acute leukemia cells alive and growing and that drives the disease forward. [Press release from The Ohio State University discussing online prepublication in Cancer Cell]

Blood Tests May Predict Leukemia Outcomes
Adding a complete blood count test may help predict leukemia treatment outcomes, U.S. researchers say. [United Press International Press Release]

Chip May Detect Spreading Cancer Cells in Blood
Researchers have found a way to test blood for the cells that spread cancer and said they might be able to use the method to predict whose cancer will come back after treatment. [Reuters]

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CURRENT PUBLICATIONS

Lethal Graft-Versus-Host Disease in Mouse Models of T Cell Receptor Gene Therapy
In this study researchers show that lethal cytokine-driven autoimmune pathology can occur in mouse models of T cell receptor gene therapy under conditions that closely mimic the clinical setting. [Nat Med]

Comparison of Human Cord Blood Engraftment Between Immunocompromised Mouse Strains
Both NOD/Lt-scid, NOD/Shi-scid, NOD/Lt-scid/IL2R(gamma)^null(NSG) and NOD/Shi-scid/IL2R(gamma)^nullsupport significantly improved engraftment in peripheral tissues compared to NOD/Lt-scid and NOD/Shi-scid mice, whereas NSG mice provide greater human engraftment in bone marrow than all other strains, especially at limiting doses. [Blood]

The Best Endpoint for Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease Treatment Trials
These data suggest that day 28 is the best early endpoint for acute graft-versus-host disease therapeutic trials in predicting 2 year TRM. [Blood]

Unrelated Cord Blood Transplantation After Myeloablative Conditioning in Adults with Advanced Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Researchers analyzed the disease-specific outcomes of adult patients with advanced myelodysplastic syndrome treated with cord blood transplantation after myeloablative conditioning. [Bone Marrow Transplant]

Co-Infusion of Ex Vivo-Expanded, Parental Mesenchymal Stem Cells Prevents Life-Threatening Acute Graft-Versus-Host-Disease, but Does Not Reduce the Risk of Graft Failure in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Allogeneic Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation
Although these data do not support the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in umbilical cord blood transplantation to support hematopoietic engraftment, they suggest that MSCs, possibly because of their immunosuppressive effect, may abrogate life-threatening acute graft-versus-host disease and reduce early treatment-related mortality. [Bone Marrow Transplant]

Menstrual Blood Cells Display Stem Cell-Like Phenotypic Markers and Exert Neuroprotection Following Transplantation in Experimental Stroke
In order to test the therapeutic potential of menstrual blood autologous stem cells, researchers used the in vitro stroke model of oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD) and found that OGD-exposed primary rat neurons that were co-cultured with menstrual blood-derived stem cells or exposed to the media collected from cultured menstrual blood exhibited significantly reduced cell death. [Stem Cells Dev]

CD45⁺/CD133⁺ Positive Cells Expanded from Umbilical Cord Blood Expressing PDX-1 and Markers of Pluripotency
Results confirm that frozen umbilical cord blood cells can be dramatically expanded along the hematopoietic cell lineage (CD45⁺/CD133⁺) which express both markers of pluripotency and a gene pattern compatible with endocrine pancreatic precursors. [Cell Biol Int]

Osteoinduction in Umbilical Cord- and Palate Periosteum-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells
The objective of this study was to characterize mesenchymal stem cells from three sources (adult abdominoplasty, palate periosteum, and umbilical cord) by surface marker prevalence, and to assess osteoinductive capability. [Ann Plast Surg]

INDUSTRY NEWS

Cord Blood America to Provide Placentas for Transplantation
Cord Blood America, Inc. announced that it has signed a Definitive Supplier Agreement with a well-respected, accredited, tissue bank providing placenta collection services for therapeutic transplantation, and Cord Blood America is already filling orders. [Cord Blood America, Inc. Press Release]

Cord Blood America Signs Letter of Intent to Purchase Controlling Interest in BioCells, Inc., a Major, Profitable South American Company
Cord Blood America, Inc. announced that it has signed a letter of intent to purchase controlling interest in BioCells, Inc., headquartered in Argentina, with affiliates under development in Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Panama and Puerto Rico. [Cord Blood America, Inc. Press Release]

City Cord Blood Bank Wins Enterprise Award
Future Health Technologies, based at Nottingham Science and Technology Park, has been given the Queen’s Award for Enterprise. [Nottingham Post]

Florida Biotech Research Money in Jeopardy
Florida researchers could lose $50 million in biomedical research funding due to the state’s $3 billion budget deficit. [Orlando Business Journal]

Quebec Biotechs in Tailspin
Once Canada’s envy, and in the same league as Boston and San Francisco, Quebec’s biotechnology industry is a shadow of its former self and in danger of disappearing, observers say. [The Gazette]

Apollo Hospitals Group Forays into Stem Cell Research
Apollo Hospitals Educational and Research Centre, under the aegis of Apollo Hospitals, has set up Cell and Molecular Biology Research Center, which will be involved in stem cell research and clinical trials, in its Jubilee Hills campus. [Apollo Hospitals Educational and Research Centre Press Release]

POLICY NEWS

Culver to Sign Blood Bank Bill in Quad-Cities
A specific tax exemption for blood testing supplies and equipment, approved by the Iowa legislature, will help clear the way for a regional testing center for blood donations in the Quad-Cities, officials say. [Iowa Legislature, United States]

Stem Cell Funding in Sight
Two of the most widely used embryonic stem cell lines could be just weeks away from being eligible for United States federal funding. [Obama Administration, United States]

Obama Picks Pragmatists for New Bioethics Panel
President Barack Obama named the members of his bioethics commission — headed by two university presidents. [National Bioethics Commission, United States]

Policy Reminder Concerning Appendix Materials for All National Institutes of Health/Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality/National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Grant Applications (NOT-OD-10-077) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Enhancing Peer Review: Clarification of Resubmission Policy and Determination of New Application Status (NOT-OD-10-080) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Guidance on Confirming Appropriate Charges to NIH Awards during Periods of Noncompliance for Activities Involving Animals (NOT-OD-10-081) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Update of Sample Animal Welfare Assurance for Foreign Institutions (NOT-OD-10-083) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Small Research Grant Program (R03) (PAR-10-168) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Human Cell, Tissues and Cellular and Tissue-Based Products (HCT/P) List of Registered Establishments [Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, United States]

Preparation for International Conference on Harmonisation Steering Committee and Expert Working Group Meetings in Tallinn, Estonia; Regional Public Meeting [Docket No. FDA-2010-N-0001] [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

EVENTS

XXIII International Symposium on Technological Innovations in Laboratory Hematology
May 10-12, 2010
Brighton, United Kingdom

16th Annual International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) Meeting
May 23-26, 2010
Philadelphia, United States

8th Annual International Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation Symposium
June 3-5, 2010
San Francisco, United States

International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) 8th Annual Meeting
June 16-19, 2010
San Francisco, United States