Truth About Stem Cell “Treatments”
What You Need to Know About Unproven Stem Cell-based "Treatments"
Stem cell research is an active field with the potential to help identify new therapies that may be able to repair or replace damaged cells or tissues. At this time there are very few conditions for which stem cell-based therapies are proven and widely accepted by the global medical community. These are primarily limited to blood stem cell transplantation to treat diseases of the blood, such as leukemia and sickle cell anemia (learn more at Treating disease. What the science says). Although research is ongoing, stem cell-based treatments for most other conditions are experimental and have not been shown to be safe and effective.
Before a stem cell therapy should be considered for use, it requires clinical trials (learn more About Clinical Trials) and a rigorous peer review process to show that it is safe and effective. Individuals undergoing unproven treatments are taking on physical and financial risk as with any medical procedure, even if the treatment uses one’s own cells.
Below, you can find resources to help patients and family members identify unproven stem cell treatments and unfounded claims. These resources also include questions to ask of treatments and treatment centers to identify legitimate therapies from treatments that are not supported by sound scientific research and/or do not have the relevant regulatory approvals.
The marketing of unproven stem cell treatments raises major ethical and integrity concerns and may jeopardize the safety of patients. The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) engages in global advocacy efforts to ensure the integrity of stem cell science and its translation to medicine. Read more about the ISSCR’s Public Policy Efforts below and what to do if you have been injured or misled by an unscrupulous stem cell clinic.
We strongly encourage patients and their families to discuss any treatment they may be considering, including an experimental treatment, with a physician who is familiar with their individual circumstances and able to critically assess the experimental treatment and clinical trial.