Are Stem Cell Treatments Safe? Not Always.

Photo by the Centers for Disease Control on Unsplash

The beauty industry thrives on miracle claims about serums that erase wrinkles or creams that promise eternal youth. But not only are these fake; they are scientifically implausible. This medical fraud comes from the unregulated stem cell clinics, which claim to contain stem cells with the capacity to generate human skin.

Stem cells are cells that self-renew and differentiate to create somatic cells. Despite their abuse in the beauty industry, stem cells beneficially treat various diseases and regenerate damaged tissues. Many medical centers are conducting research that will revolutionize their uses. In California alone, we have the UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center, the Advanced Stem Cell Institute, the California Stem Cell Treatment Center, and more. While these clinics intend to address biomedical challenges through their stem cell experiments and data, not all do.

Numerous unchecked stem cell clinics are unethically treating patients. Throughout the U.S., these clinics are offering unproven, costly, bogus treatments. They make outlandish claims like being able to treat a wide array of diseases for which there is currently no proven stem cell therapy.

These procedures typically involve isolating a crude mix of tissue stem cells from the patient, derived from fat and blood, then transplanting them back into the patient. This process has no effect on the body, since it only replaces stem cells in the patient with the ones it removed. Even worse, backed by no clinical data, these treatments are completely unproven

Dr. Mark Berman, co-founder of the popular Cell Surgical Network, calls his mixture of fat and blood cells a “soup”. “I don’t even know what’s in the soup,” admits Berman. “Most of the time, if stem cells are in the soup, then the patient’s got a good chance of getting better.” Displaying clear signs of ignorance and disgrace, Berman admits to not even understanding how his ‘treatments’ work. Similar to his co-workers in the field of stem cells, he has no formal background in stem cell research. However, he still sells his anti-aging products at no cheap cost, ranging generally from thousands to tens of thousands of dollars.

This corrupted industry induces serious concern because it puts patients in danger, and bona fide science is at monumental risk.

Very few stem cell treatments have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). So, in most cases, the clinical procedures being conducted are not approved and therefore illegal. They cannot sell or market stem cell therapies without FDA authorization, yet they do it anyway.

Contrary to the popular saying, rules were not made to be broken, and laws must be kept intact. Illegal activities should not be condoned, especially in this instance where they can cost patients thousands of dollars and risk health issues. Yet, these actors prioritize money over patient ethics and safety.

Many of these clinics are exploiting the lack of regulation and knowledge about stem cells to avoid accusations of fraud—a reality that makes researchers uneasy. In contrast, approved therapies are saving lives. For example, bone marrow transplants irradiate unhealthy bone marrow and replace it with healthy stem cells, effectively treating multiple blood disorders. 

Additionally, stem cell treatments relating to diabetes are promising. Since stem cells can differentiate into somatic cells, they are being used to regenerate insulin-producing cells, expressing encouraging results. Currently, eye disorders are an excellent target for stem cell therapy because human pluripotent stem cells generate functional retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells with high efficiency. For macular degeneration (MD), Regenerative Patch Technologies has developed a composite subretinal implant. 

Therefore, stem cells aren’t the problem; it’s the way they are manipulated.

The future of medicine depends on trust in science. If stem cell research is to fulfill its life-saving potential, regulators must shut down pseudoscience, while consumers must not fall victim to empty promises and instead seek evidence.