Tissue-based therapies

Though DNA damage-based therapies havebeen in use for many years, it has remained unclear why such treatment often causes the selective death of tumor cells while sparing adjacent normal tissue. The genetic alterations that occur in cancers that alter the DNA damage reponse may explain why such therapy can be efficacious. 

Monoclonal antibodies for in vivo use Cytokines (e.g. interferons and interleukins) Therapeutic enzymes Thrombolytic agents Hormones Growth factors Additional miscellaneous proteins Blood Blood proteins (e.g. albumin and blood factors) Vaccines Cell- and tissue-based products Gene therapy products Antitoxins, venoms and antivenins Allenergic extracts... 

Zuk PA, Zhu M, Mizuno H, Huang J, Futrell JW, Katz AJ, Benhaim P, Lorenz HP and Hedrick MH (2001). Multilineage cells from human adipose tissue implications for cell based therapies. Tissue Eng 7 211-228. 

Since not all tissues are as biochemically unique as hormone-secreting organs, other approaches have been explored in an attempt to achieve tumor-specific killing while sparing other tissues. Photodynamic therapy is such an approach. This type of therapy is based upon the accumulation of a dmg molecule within the tumor, followed by a light-mediated... 

Despite these failures, the need still exists for alternative liver therapies. Several new techniques including cell transplantation, tissue-engineered constructs, and extra- and paracorporeal devices seek to relieve some of the demands placed on a compromised liver. Liver assist devices allow the liver to regenerate its function by removing some of the demands. Bridge-to-transplant devices seek to maintain patients until suitable donors are available. Some therapies seek to remove toxins from the blood, and they have a place in the treatment scheme, but due to the complex and multifunctional nature of the organ, some type of cell-based therapy is considered a more complete solution. 

Guidance for FDA Review Staff and Sponsors Content and Review of Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Control (CMC) Information for Human Gene Therapy Investigational New Drug Applications (INDs) (draft guidance) (November 2004) Current Good Tissue Practices for Human Cell, Tissue, and Cellular Tissue-Based Product Establishments Inspection and Enforcement (November 2004)... 

Zuk PA, et al. Multilineage cells from human adipose tissue implications for cell-based therapies. Tissue Eng 2001 7 211-28. 

Perhaps the application for human stem cells with the most potential is the generation of cells and tissues for the cell-based therapies. The demand for donated organs and tissues far outweighs the supply. Stem cells could possibly be directed toward the production of replacement cells and tissues to treat Parkinson s disease, Alzheimer s disease, spinal cord injury, stroke, burns, heart disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. 

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