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Lab-Grown Blood Stem Cells Promise Personalized Cancer Treatments

New method creates patient-specific stem cells, potentially ending reliance on bone marrow donors.

Photograph of the tip of a pipette dropping a bead of fluid into one of multiple wells. The clear tray is lit from underneath with the image of a cell
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Overview

  • Scientists have successfully grown human blood stem cells in a lab for the first time.
  • The lab-grown cells can become functional bone marrow, reducing the risk of transplant rejection.
  • This approach could provide an unlimited supply of stem cells from a patient's own cells.
  • Researchers aim to begin human trials within five years to ensure safety and efficacy.
  • The breakthrough could revolutionize treatments for leukemia, lymphoma, and other blood diseases.