Safety and feasibility of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells in treatment-refractory systemic lupus erythematosus nephritis: time for a double-blind placebo-controlled trial to determine efficacy.
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ABSTRACT: As translational clinical researchers familiar with the risk-benefit of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in autoimmune diseases, we are intrigued by the recent report of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (UC-MSC) transplantation in treatment-refractory systemic lupus erythematosus nephritis by Wang and colleagues. They report the results of an open-label single-arm multicenter phase I/II study. This stimulated us to examine whether collective data from this group provide sufficient evidence for the feasibility, safety, dose rationale, and potential efficacy of UC-MSCs to conduct a randomized controlled trial in such patients. Results, though confounded by variable baseline prednisone and immuno-suppressive treatment, appear to indicate near-term response rates of approximately 50%, which are comparable to those seen with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation but with less morbidity and mortality.
SUBMITTER: Woodworth TG
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4261567 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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