Photo by Janet Stevens
Human neural stem cell treatments are showing promise for reversing learning and memory deficits after chemotherapy, according to an article in Cancer Research.
Investigators found that transplanting stem cells in rats a week after they completed a series of chemotherapy sessions restored a range of cognitive functions, as
measured a month later via behavioral testing.
In contrast, animals that did not receive stem cells showed significant learning and memory impairment.
“Our findings provide the first solid evidence that transplantation of human neural stem cells can be used to reverse chemotherapeutic-induced damage of healthy tissue in the brain,” said study author Charles Limoli, PhD, of the University of California, Irvine.
For this study, Dr Limoli and his colleagues transplanted adult neural stem cells into the brains of rats that had received cyclophosphamide.
The cells migrated throughout the hippocampus, where they survived and differentiated into multiple neural cell types. Additionally, these cells triggered the secretion of neurotrophic growth factors that helped rebuild wounded neurons.
The investigators also found that engrafted cells protected the host neurons, thereby preventing the loss or promoting the repair of damaged neurons and their finer structural elements, referred to as dendritic spines.
“This research suggests that stem cell therapies may one day be implemented in the clinic to provide relief to patients suffering from cognitive impairments incurred as a result of their cancer treatments,” Dr Limoli said. “While much work remains, a clinical trial analyzing the safety of such approaches may be possible within a few years.”
