Treating MS Symptoms With Stem Cells

Promising Northwestern University Trial Uses Patient's Own Stem Cells To Treat Symptoms Of Multiple Sclerosis

(CBS)  An estimated 400,000 Americans suffer from multiple sclerosis, but the findings of a new clinical trial shows promise in the fight to reverse symptoms of MS.

Researchers at Northwestern University conducted a trial using patients' own stem cells to treat symptoms of multiple sclerosis, reports Early Show correspondent Debbye Turner Bell, and although the study group was small -- only 21 patients participated in it -- the findings are a huge breakthrough in the fight against MS.

Edwin McClure is strong and healthy now, but just four years ago, his life was very different.

"I would get fatigued. I couldn't deal with the heat," McClure said. "I had really bad balance."

In his senior year of high school, the star football player came down with what he thought was a cold. Then his vision changed.

"It was kind of like somebody turned down a dimmer switch 30 degrees," McClure said.

It was a neurologist who diagnosed what was happening to Edwin.

"He said, 'You have the signs of multiple sclerosis,'" McClure said.

"And what did you think?" Turner Bell asked.

"I remember hearing my mom say, 'Oh no.'" McClure said. "This is a disease 40-year-old white women get and I'm like 'I'm an 18-year-old black male. Somebody didn't get the memo somewhere.'"

For the next two years, Edwin received the conventional drugs used to manage MS, but his symptoms persisted. Then in 2005, he heard about a clinical trial being conducted at Northwestern University in Chicago.

"This therapy is designed to reset your immune system," said Dr. Richard Burt.

Burt led a study that looked at a completely new way to treat MS -- stem cell transplant. The patient's own stem cells are stimulated to grow more cells, then harvested. Next, chemotherapy is used to wipe out the immune system.

"It was rough," McClure said.

The treatment lasted nearly a month. Then Edwin's previously harvested stem cells were transplanted back.

"They call it your birthday when you get re-infused," McClure said. "So that birthday was January 21, 2006."

"When did you start thinking, 'This might have worked,'" asked Turner Bell.

"When my hair started growing back," McClure said.

"Well now for the first time in battling MS, I think you can say there's a study that's shown we've turned the tide against the disease," Burt said.

And today, Edwin's symptoms of MS have completely disappeared.

"I really don't feel like I have multiple sclerosis anymore," he said.

Edwin McClure and his mother, Bernice, visited The Early Show to share more of his story. Click on the Play button below to see the interview.

[jerrylee13]

Glad to hear this treatment worked! :) Has anybody been able to get more info on this treatment for people with MS? I am a caregiver to my Aunt that has MS and she has Primary Progressive and no other meds has helped. Thanks
My e-mail is [e-mail]

[petersiedler77]

Besides MS there are many other diseases like parkinson's, cerebral palsy (CP), multiple system atrophy (MSA) and other which are treated similar. I hear a lot of good things about Tiantan Puhua Hospital in Beijing, one of the largest neurosurgical hospitals in Asia. They do all kind of stem cell treatments and especially successful with MS: http://www.stemcellspuhua.com/

[GALIN1]

I have MS. Helpful or not I still want this treatment. If it does not work, I'll be no worse off than I am now.

[GALIN1]

WHERE CAN I GO AND WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO GET THIS TREATMENT? I HAVE M.S. AND ALL THE SAME SYMPTOMS BUT HAVE NOT USED ANY M.S. MEDS FOR ANYTHING. HELP, PLEASE.

[mrs_prober]

I have Lupus and DR. Burt will be transplanting me in July '09 at Northwestern University. He will use the same treatment that was used used for M.S. I encourage everyone with autoimmune issues to seek out his help. He is truely a miracle worker. Check out Northwestern University immunoloy dept. Medicine/Immunotherapy for Autoimmune Disease. Richard K. Burt, MD Associate Professor; Chief, Division of Immunotherapy

[e-mail] ...

www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/depts/ibc/Faculty.html

ImmunotherapyRichard Burt, MD. Professor of Medicine Chief, Division of Immunotherapy for Autoimmune Diseases [e-mail].
Contact UsNorthwestern University The Feinberg School of Medicine 750 N Lakeshore Dr., Suite 649. Chicago, IL 60611 ... People in the Department: Richard Burt, MD Chief, Division of Immunotherapy for Autoimmune Diseases [e-mail] [phone]. Yu Oyama, M.D. [phone] [e-mail]. Kim Bracy ...
www.medicine.northwestern.edu/divisions/immunotherapy_autoimmune/contact.html -

I pray people will jump at this opportunity. I am. They are curing things that would blow your mind.
Shelly Hill
[e-mail]

[doreenlynne]

I just spoke with Dr Burt's office yesterday. The neurologist is booked solid up until May. There is a lot of interest in this study. Don't wait too long to contact the office at [e-mail]. I had also listed another e mail address in a previous comment.
They both go directly to the transplant team
Good Luck
Doreen

[doreenlynne]

Hi, My daughter Jill has MS and just had the transplant in Nov 08. She was treated by Dr Burt. His # is 312-908-0059. His secretary's name is Kim. You can e mail his clinical nurse Kate at [e-mail]. That is how I got her in this trial. Don't let anyone fool you. I am a mother and know how hard it is. Jill was on natural treatments for over 4 years. I spent over $400.00 a month and she was seen weekly by a medical doctor who also practiced chinese medicine. It worked for a while but after 3 years, she started going downhill fast. She was already on rebiff and copaxone. They both didn't work. This trial is a miracle for MS and autoimmune disease. It is the only hope at this point. Jil was a donor for her sister in 2000. Her sister had non hodgkins lymphoma. She saved her sisters life. I hope and pray for all of you in need. My only concern is for your health. If you want any more info my e mail is [e-mail].

[colleen521]

Hi,

My name is Colleen Gormeley. I was dx w/Multiple Sclerosis in 1992. After I gave birth to my son in 2003, I can not walk, my balance is way-off and i always feel exhausted.
I am feelng very hopeless. Are the any ongoing/upcoming trials in STEM CELLS that I can possibly get in?

Thank you much,
Colleen
267-278-1386

[Janice_Fuller]

I've met other folks w/ MS who've been to Costa Rica for adult stem cell therapy & are having great results, some are are completely symptom free, so I've been fund-raising & will be going to Costa Rica myself in April.

I have a website at: http://adultstemcelltherapy.ning.com/ where I've compiled ASCT research info as I come across it ... there are others w/ MS on the site, some who've had the treatment or are planning to have it & we're learning from each other.

Please feel free to look into it if interested ... it's my hope that many will be able to use the website for both a learning resource & a fund-raising tool.

Kind regards to all ~ Janice

[pauljoan211]

This treatment needs to be made available to everyone. Otherwise it is just a cruel tease and means nothing. If it works like it did for this fortunate young man then great if not then we are no worse off than we are now anyway. I am sure I am not the only one that feels this way. It dosen't matter who supports what in the end. stop the BS and just try it what diff does it make. adult embriotic stem if you have MS you know what I mean if you do not then sure you can afford to have it make a difference. I would not wish this on anyone no matter how selfish or insensative you are. Like the fanatics over seas that feel their beliefs are the only right ones and dam everyone else i just don't get it believe as I do or die....what's wrong with this picture. I can only hope that this moves forward quickly and at least we will know if it works or not so we can get back to normal and stop dreaming until the next "big break through"

[vicky56vaj]

Is there an area for people who have MS to be going to get help with seeing if they can get rid of having MS... I have it and really need to know if there is a way for everyone to be getting help to get rid of having MS.

Not really sure if you would be emailing all those people who are looking for help to be rid of MS.

I left a message when the news of the Stem cell research was done on one guy.

I live in the South Texas area...
Thanks for reading
Vicky JohnsTon

[selah2941]

Just read some of the comments/questions and so far did not read anything mentioning the breakthrough also about Vitamin D deficiency (or inability to absorb same) being researched for last year or more.
Go to LifeExtensionFoundation''s website: lef.org to learn more about this connection. Remember all the common knowledge about there being more cases reported the further from the sunlight of the equator? I read somewhere about receptors for Vitamin D being absent in the brain and that is why those people would suffer from the lack. Clinical trials all around the world are taking place with exciting results. The information just doesn''t get into the brains of the average neurologist! LEF can help you stay abreast of the very latest findings and will always document the investigators work---often times including email contact available. Pretty amazing foundation. Their members can obtain protocols of the very latest research. They''ve been most helpful to me since my youngest daughter was diagnosed with MS. I''m thrilled about this breakthrough with stem cells. I too would like to know about the prognosis with the other participants. So happy for Edwin!

[tdadcox]

Yep they treat it in Costa Rica. They do not use Chemotherapy. I have been and have less symptoms now. Go to www.cellmedicine.com and find out info. You can also go to my site www.freewebs.com/angelaadcox and read about my experience.

[tdadcox]

Yep they treat it in Costa Rica. They do not use Chemotherapy. I have been and have less symptoms now. Go to www.cellmedicine.com and find out info. You can also go to my site www.freewebs.com/angelaadcox and read about my experience.

[tdadcox]

Yep they treat it in Costa Rica. They do not use Chemotherapy. I have been and have less symptoms now. Go to www.cellmedicine.com and find out info. You can also go to my site www.freewebs.com/angelaadcox and read about my experience.

[tdadcox]

Yep they treat it in Costa Rica. They do not use Chemotherapy. I have been and have less symptoms now. Go to www.cellmedicine.com and find out info. You can also go to my site www.freewebs.com/angelaadcox and read about my experience.

[msmckym]

I was diagnosed with RRMS in 1994. How can I get more info about the research being done at Northwestern or how to participate in the current, larger or future studies.

[bmmg39]

I see that many people here are still confused at the difference between adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells.

This wonderful treatment for multiple sclerosis came from ADULT stem cells, NOT EMBRYONIC stem cells. President Bush and millions of other people in this country oppose embryonic stem cell research, but SUPPORT adult stem cell research, such as the human trial included in this story. President Bush, I am certain, rejoiced at the news that ethical research is helping these people, just as it has thousands of other actual human patients.

Hope this helps.

[pauljoan211]

It was implied in an earlier comment that this treatment is currently available and being used in other countries.
Does anyone know if this is true? and in what countries? or how to find out?
Please email me at [e-mail] if you have any information.
Thank you
God''s speed to everyone involved in this much needed research

[earthstarr]

I was diagnosed in 1998 and am currently using IvIgG and Rebif. I would love to be a part of this larger study. How can I go about getting information about participating in the study?

[dxd58830]

I was diagnosed with RRMS in may of ''88. I have lost alot to this disease bur I have also gained quite a bit. My first question is how did the rest of the study patients react. Did they have the same results as Mr. McClure did or is his case one in a million? This sounds extremely promising but I would like to see more studies done.

By the way, George W. Bush never said he didn''t support stem cell research he only said the the government didn''t need to be funding it. Anyonre that wanted to get into stem cell research was able to, there was nothing stopping them. We don''t need the government to be our "nannies".