Duke University Releases Follow Up Stroke Study
The scientific importance of the COBIS study can be seen for two reasons. First it establishes that infusing allogeneic (donated) cord blood is safe which was the primary purpose of the Phase I Clinical Study. Second, and more intriguing were the therapeutic results:
Results of the study
Fifty percent of subjects improved by one grade on the Modified Rankin Scale (mRS); forty percent improved by two mRS grades, and ten percent (1 patient) improved by 3 mRS grades.
The authors note
“While the exact pathways by which UCB cells lead to recovery following brain injury have yet to be elucidated, animal models suggest several potential mechanisms. Transplanted cells may migrate to the ischemic area and deliver trophic factors that provide anti‐inflammatory and neuroprotective effects, and improve the potential for host brain cell survival. For example, human UCB cells release brain‐derived neurotrophic factor and vascular endothelial growth factor, which have been shown to play a role in neurogenesis and angiogenesis in rodent models of brain injury. These factors may facilitate plasticity of the injured brain by enhancing synaptogenesis, neovascularization, and endogenous repair mechanisms, and by inducing migration and proliferation of endogenous neural stem cells.”
