Currently there is no effective treatment for reversing these symptoms. One third of new stroke victims die and about 20 to 30 percent are permanently disabled.
Stroke is the leading cause of disability in the United States.
The cells, called LBS-Neurons, are purified for use in transplantation studies. Although the cells are derived from a human tumor, they have never developed into tumors during years of research using animals, Steinberg said. Preliminary results of a phase-I trial of the neurotransplantation procedure conducted at the University of Pittsburgh on 12 patients indicated the cells were safe for use in humans. The results also hinted that the new neurons may be able to correct at least some of the permanent neurological symptoms that linger after a stroke. Although the study was not designed to prove efficacy because the number of patients was too small, there was a suggestion that half the patients experienced improved motor function six months after implantation.