A study published in the journal Neurology shows that a line of cells grown from an embryonic carcinoma or cancer cell were successfully transplanted into the brains of 12 patients who had suffered strokes between six months and six years earlier. Although the small study was only intended to show safety and not efficacy of the radical treatment, subsequent brain scans showed an increase in metabolism in areas of the brain once thought dead. Study leader Lawrence Wechsler said the study would now shift to phase two, involving patients at three United States institutes and higher dosages. In the third and final phase, an international trial is planned, and Australia is likely to be involved. Professor Wechsler cautioned that the scale of the study was too small to make definitive claims at this stage.
Scientists worldwide are excited about the findings.
The research hints at a holy grail of treatment for an overwhelming number of stroke patients for whom biological science has been able to offer little. There are 200,000 Australians who have suffered a stroke. Most medical treatment concentrates on a short period after a stroke, usually a few hours. Professor Wechsler held back on presenting his findings at last week's fourth World Stroke Congress at the Melbourne Congress Centre. Instead, he discussed the research later in the week at a Hamilton Island retreat with local scientists.