A review found preliminary signs that stem cell therapy may slow ALS progression
Original source
The Effectiveness Based on Optimal Dose and Administration Route, and Safety Profiles of Stem Cells and Derived Products in the Treatment of Patients With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. (opens in a new tab)Compass summarised this from the study's abstract.
Study details
- Study type
- Review
- Studied in
- Human
Population inferred from the title and abstract by Compass.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 31 studies found that stem cell-treated participants in controlled trials had slower worsening on the ALS Functional Rating Scale than controls. Evidence from single-arm studies was mixed, and some analyses found faster declines in forced vital capacity. The authors said the evidence remains exploratory and does not yet establish clinical effectiveness.
Why this matters
This may help guide future ALS research, including studies of dose, treatment route and safety. It does not currently change treatment for people with ALS, because the findings come from varied studies and need confirmation in larger, standardised randomised trials.
Limitations and context
The review included seven controlled trials with 370 participants and 24 non-controlled studies with 460 participants. The studies differed in design, dose, treatment duration and cell products. Some lung-function findings were no longer statistically significant after high-dose mesenchymal stem cell studies were excluded. The authors called for larger multicentre randomised controlled trials, standardised cell manufacturing and longer follow-up.