Stem Cell Therapy

Stem cell therapy is an emerging treatment that has garnered attention from both doctors and patients, falling under the category of "regenerative medicine applications." Advances in medical technology are opening new horizons for the acquisition and application of stem cells (SVF). The cultivation of stem cells, meaning their reproduction, is subject to approval by the Ministry of Health. However, as mentioned earlier, these technological advancements are leading to the discovery of new treatment areas in medicine. In fact, stem cell therapy is a treatment that has been practiced since the 1960s. Known as bone marrow transplantation, this method initially began as a treatment for leukemia patients and has since been widely accepted for its positive outcomes.

General Information About Stem Cells

Stem cells, when prepared and introduced into the body, not only activate the body's healing potential but also trigger the release of chemicals that attract and guide other stem cells to the damaged areas. Continue reading our article to learn more about all the features of stem cells.

Characteristics of Stem Cells

In essence, stem cell therapy stimulates the body’s own healing mechanisms. It is important to understand that different types of stem cells originate from different parts of the body and serve various functions. Scientists believe that stem cells have specific and limited capabilities, and they are exploring the different roles that tissue-specific stem cells may play in the healing process.

Stem cells are essentially "undifferentiated cells." This means that, unlike other cells in the body, they have the potential to develop into a wide variety of other cell types. They carry with them the ability to repair and restore internal systems. Thus, in theory, stem cells could help repair tissues, muscles, blood, bones, and organs, support growth, and even replace missing parts. Tissue-specific stem cells have the capacity to produce other cell types within the tissue they reside in, provided they are not interfered with in the laboratory. It is crucial where the stem cells are sourced from, where they are placed, and for what purpose they are used. Otherwise, the injection of unrelated cells into inappropriate locations could lead to undesirable results.

What is Stem Cell?

Stem cells are groups of cells within our body that have not yet formed into organs.

Where Are They Located?

Stem cells are found in nearly every tissue of our body.

What Is Their Importance in Treatment?

They initiate the repair and regeneration process in tissues that have degenerated or been destroyed.

Are There Any Side Effects?

When the cells are derived from the patient’s own body, they do not cause harm during treatment. This has been scientifically proven.

Are Stem Cells Used in Cancer Treatment?

These applications, which require specialized laboratory setups, are performed in a few advanced centers worldwide. However, we do not conduct specific applications for cancer. If a patient is in remission, meaning after chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and has been in recovery for more than five years, we apply stem cell therapy, particularly for joint issues, in these cases.

Where Are Stem Cells Most Commonly Sourced in Treatment?

We primarily use stem cells harvested from abdominal fat and bone marrow for treatment.

How Long Does the Procedure Take?

The procedure is completed in a single day. For example, a patient arriving at 9:00 AM will be ready for the application by 3:00 PM. After the procedure, patients can walk home.

Stem Cell Preparation

Patients can have a light breakfast in the morning, after which only local anesthesia is administered, and approximately one glass of fat is aspirated and removed. If stem cells are to be sourced from the bone marrow, a glass of blood and bone marrow is extracted from the pelvic area. This material is then sent to the lab. After a 4-5 hour process in the laboratory, stem cells are collected, concentrated, and specifically activated for the target organ. Stem cells are dormant cells that need to be awakened and activated according to the target organ. There is a distinct awakening process for joints and a separate one for nerve tissues.

Is Every Stem Cell Treatment the Same?

No, they are not. In fact, a fluid called SVF (Stromal Vascular Fraction), often referred to as stem cells, is obtained. The injection of substances extracted by centrifuging fat from the abdomen is often marketed as stem cell treatment. However, one key point is that prepared stem cells should be administered through the bloodstream. Unawakened stem cells are essentially just fat transfers, and their effectiveness is insufficient.

Which Patients Benefit Most from This Treatment?

Stem cell treatments, which are considered a prosthesis-sparing option, yield the best results in cases of joint degeneration. Cartilage wear and calcifications in the knee and hip joints benefit significantly from this treatment. In the West, stem cell treatments are increasingly being offered as an alternative to knee and hip prostheses. Speaking from our team's experience, since 2009, around 85% of the patients treated with stem cell therapy (activated SVF) for joint degeneration, who were either told they needed a prosthesis or were considering one, have avoided prosthetic surgery. A single application is usually sufficient, though a second application may be performed in certain cases for optimal results. Most patients experience recovery after the second application.

Is It Effective in Neurological Diseases?

Mesenchymal stem cells sourced from the bone marrow are beneficial for both children and adults suffering from immune system diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Stem cell therapy is becoming a priority in MS treatment worldwide. It has been reported that the disease can be halted for 1-2 years post-treatment, with some clinical improvements observed.

Cerebral Palsy

In cases of cerebral palsy, up to 75% of patients show improvement in motor functions, meaning their movement abilities. Additionally, there have been reports of increased cognitive function and improvements in speech disorders. Recovery typically begins one month after the stem cell application and continues to develop over six months.

Autism

In autistic children, improvements are noted three months after stem cell treatment, including increased learning capacity, better verbal and non-verbal communication, and approximately a 60% improvement in social behavior.

Parkinson’s Disease

Around 9 out of 15 patients benefit from this treatment. The recovery process develops slowly after the application and can take up to six months. As a result, these patients can regain independence in daily activities.

Cardiovascular Diseases

Stem cell therapy is particularly useful in heart failure. Even in patients who have had a myocardial infarction, injecting stem cells into the coronary vessels during angiography or through the angio method leads to healing in most patients.

Burger’s Disease

In severe cases of foot vascular disorders, which are more common among smokers, the toes may require surgical amputation. Sometimes, the foot may be amputated up to the knee. When stem cell therapy is administered through the blood and around the vessels, these patients can recover.

Stem Cell Therapy in Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries most commonly result from motor vehicle accidents, falls, acts of violence, or sports accidents, leading to spinal cord fractures that crush or sever the spinal cord. Damage to the spine often causes loss of muscle control, sensory functions, and body coordination.

Stem Cell Therapy in Neuropathic Pain

Scientific and technological advancements are opening new horizons for us. Currently, many organizations and clinics are researching the safety and effectiveness of stem cells in pain treatment. Preliminary data in pain management is promising. For stem cell application in pain treatment, I would like to briefly mention the painful conditions that have been scientifically researched and are also treated by us. Positive results have been achieved in neuropathic pain, Degenerative Disc Disease (low back pain), worn-out, calcified knee, hip, and other joint arthrosis.

Stem Cells in Pain Treatment

Given the regenerative and reparative abilities of stem cells, their application in pain management is a logical step. As a specialist in Algology, I am pleased to see that conditions previously resolved only through surgery are now being effectively treated with non-surgical methods. I am excited to share this information with you. The impossibilities of yesterday are becoming the possibilities of today. In pain treatment, particularly worn joints, such as knees and hips, are being treated to repair cartilage structures, relieve pain, and eliminate the need for prosthetics. Additionally, degenerated discs between the spines, damaged nerves, and neuropathic pain are also being addressed through regenerative applications. We use mesenchymal stem cells in pain treatment. To obtain these cells, the most dense regions, such as bone marrow and adipose tissue, are selected.

How Do Stem Cells Aid in Healing?

These cells contribute to the healing process through the substances they secrete (hormones, cytokines, exosomes). These secretions increase vascularity in the damaged tissue, stimulate the local stem cells to participate in the repair, and enhance the efficiency of the immune system.

Methods of Stem Cell Administration

Direct application to the damaged joint, intravenous systemic application, and specific systemic application targeting the brain tissue.

Key Points

This treatment involves not only the transplantation of stem cells but also the activation of these cells from their dormant state to an active working phase. Additionally, when injecting stem cells into a joint, a specially prepared "autologous fat graft" from the patient's own fat tissue is used. Another important aspect is that individual and disease-specific modifications are made with stem cells, taking into account the unique conditions of each patient.

Conclusion

Stem cell applications are among the treatments offering new hope to patients who have lost it. Our greatest wish is that these treatments become more widespread, their costs reduced, and that they are made available to those in need through public healthcare.

Health Tourism and Stem Cells

In recent years, our country has proven its effectiveness across a wide range of health applications, especially in the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. As a result, Turkey has become a leading country with advanced medical expertise and well-established infrastructure in terms of facilities, teams, and equipment. It is essential to add stem cell applications to general health practices and introduce strategies that will further promote daily stem cell applications. We need to implement measures that will allow us to compete with countries such as the USA, Israel, Ukraine, and India, which have restricted indications and are not widely publicized but generate significant economic input. This will prevent our citizens from seeking treatment abroad and encourage them to receive these treatments within our own country.