... into any mature cell type. Current and Potential therapeutic uses of stem cells: Over the last 30 years bone marrow and more recently umbilical cord blood stem cells have been used to treat cancer patients with conditions such as leukemia. As most blood producing cells are destroyed during chemotherapy, by introducing the stem cells from a healthy donor, the damaged blood producing stem cells of the patient can be replaced. Research has also been carried out to use stem cells as a potential means to cure brain tumors. With traditional techniques, brain cancer is almost impossible to treat as it spreads rapidly. Researchers at Harvard University have found out that by injecting human neural stem cells into rodents with intracranial tumors the situation is greatly improved. The injected substance was able to reduce tumor mass by 80%. Stem cells therapy has been used to treat heart diseases by regenerating damaged heart beating ...

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