Stmc-23. Ethical Perspectives on Unproven Stem Cell Transplants in Neuro-oncological Disease
Year: 2016
Type: conference-abstract
Abstract: The application of stem cell transplants in clinical practice has become increasingly common, and many neurological diseases, including malignant brain tumors, are being targeted for intervention with stem cell transplants. The transplant procedures currently being carried out are frequently unregulated and may endanger patients. In most cases, patients undergoing such operations are not included in a clinical trial, and often do not provide genuinely informed consent. We performed a systematic search of the PubMed database to identify articles that referenced the use of the ethics of stem cell transplants in the treatment of neurooncological disease. Few recent articles have been written from a neurosurgical perspective on the ethics of stem cell transplants, despite the fact that many unproven stem cell transplants are currently being carried out by neurosurgeons. There are many relevant ethical issues at hand when discussing stem cell transplants, which include regulatory oversight, data sharing, the nature of investigation (e.g., clinical trial vs. non-trial), informed consent, risk-benefit ratios and the therapeutic misconception, and patient vulnerability. Unproven stem cell therapies for neurooncological disease are currently being offered outside the structure of well-designed clinical trials. Some of these therapies may be ethically dubious, and could jeopardize progress in the field. Here, we provide a series of discussion points for neurosurgeons to consider as they evaluate new stem cell interventions for neurooncological disease, based primarily on the recently updated guidelines put forth by the International Society for Stem Cell Research. Our hope is that this discussion may help guide the translation of stem cells from the laboratory into the neurosurgical clinic in an ethically sound manner for improved treatment of patients harboring brain tumors. [Submitted on behalf of the Ethics Committee of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies].
Source: Neuro-Oncology
Language: English
Subfield: Physiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2588507279