Stem cell research and applications

¶ … Journal of Clinical Infectious Diseases released the findings of a group of stem-cell researchers working on improving the recovery of leukemia patients that received stem cell transplantations, in the article "Ciprofloxacin decreased polyoma BK virus load in patients who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation." The hypothesis of the study conducted was that Ciprofloxacin would be an effective treatment against a certain virus that affects patients, called Polyoma BK virus, or BKV, which is associated with hemorrhagic cystitis, a kind of serious bladder infection. The hypothesis was found to be true, and the antibiotic Ciprofloxacin will undergo further studies and clinical applications to determine the most effective uses against the BKV in post stem-cell transplant patients.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is a common treatment used to treat leukemia. This is a type of transplant of stem cells from a donor into the patient, rather than a transplant of one's own stem cells. These stem cells are found in bone marrow, and they are the progenerators of red cells, white cells, and platelets, which are the three major blood elements. It is defects in the creation of these blood cells which causes leukemia, therefore transplanting new stem cells to create healthy blood can save lives. Unfortunately, this transplantation of stem cells must usually be accompanied with high levels of systemic chemoradiation therapy in order to destroy the patient's own bone marrow so that the transplanted bone marrow will work. Hemorrhagic cystitis, or sudden appearance of blood in the urine accompanied by an irritated bladder, is a common symptom in post-transplant patients. It is common in large part because of the chemotherapy drugs which are broken down by the body and then passed through the bladder and urinary system, causing irritation and a weakened immune system. BKV is commonly associated with this bladder condition.

Patients undergoing treatment for this bladder condition that tested positive for this virus, after transplantation, were given either ciprofloxacin or a cephalosporin as an antibiotic. The urine was sampled every week, and levels of the virus itself and in vitro drug sensitivity were tested. Ciprofloxacin was in fact found to decrease urinary BKV reactivation.

This study affects my daily life in several ways. First, I lost a cat to feline leukemia several years ago, and I have a friend who has been diagnosed with leukemia recently. While this study is relevant to human leukemia, not feline, it is still an advancement for both of these individuals. Treatments that are reserved for humans today, once commonplace enough, will also be available for other animals. However, for my friend who is about to start undergoing chemotherapy treatment and a stem-cell transplant, this is very relevant to me. The many painful side effects of leukemia treatments can be the worst part of the entire ordeal for many patients, and research which confirms the use of a safe antibiotic that will help alleviate and cure some of these very dangerous side effects is a positive application of science. A more pertinent to ethics and morality way in which this is relevant to my everyday life is that this is a prime example of an application of stem cell research that is overlooked by the media. In reference to leukemia treatments, the media always says "bone marrow transplant" and leaves out any mention of stem cells. Stem cells are mentioned most often in controversial debates about the morality of abortion, human experimentation, cloning, and a series of other issues. However, people who demand an end to all stem cell research have completely ignored the fact that many stem cells, which are vital to saving lives, are obtained from willing, living, and consensual donors without any involvement of sci-fi-like or blasphemous technology. People with moral dilemmas regarding some types of stem cell research need to do some research of their own so that they might understand that stem cells are not necessarily (or often, if ever) obtained from some of the objectionable sources people have been led to think.