A Pioneering Clinical Trial To Treat Knee Arthritis With Stem Cells Begin In France

The stem cells called mesenchymal stem cells are stored in the bone marrow

, and can for healing bone and cartilage.

About 50 patients with knee osteoarthritis are expected to take part in the trial. After the operation the, researchers will then follow their progress for another 12 months to monitor the state of the cartilage and changes in their day to day living.

To remove the stem cells, a surgeon inserts a needle in the back of the patient's pelvis and aspirates a mixture of blood and cells, under local or general anasthetic. The stem cells are then concentrated in a separator cell, then mixed and stimulated with a protein and collagen matrix. The transplantation is made in one step, without culture expanded, under knee arthroscopy, directly on the cartilage defect. It is hoped they will eventually produce chondrocytes, the cells that make up cartilage, and reduce the inflammation and pain in the joint.

The new treatment could be an alternative to joint replacement surgery, with the possibility to stop the cartilage destruction, and to heal the cartilage lesion.

We will then test the effectiveness of this cell therapy, based on the quality

of the new cartilage formed over a period of 12 months.

The trial began in 19th July, in Marseille, France, Vert Coteau Hospital; the

duration is 1 years, and concerns 50 patients. It is a pilot study to treat the

cartilage destruction, with preliminary results in March 2011.

A Pioneering Clinical Trial To Treat Knee Arthritis With Stem Cells Begin In France

By: Michel Assor, MD

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