MORE RESEARCH IS NEEDED

Stem cell research has the potential to dramatically change the way many cardiac and noncardiac diseases and injuries are treated, including diabetes, spinal cord injury, muscular dystrophy, and bone and cartilage diseases. CCT has garnered an enormous amount of attention in the scientific community, and considerable resources and effort are being applied to its study. Despite early promise, much work is still needed to ascertain the long-term efficacy of CCT and to refine transplantation and cell culture techniques. The clinical evaluation of CCT is just beginning, and we need a better understanding of the fundamental biologic processes that govern the behavior of these cells. For instance, little is known about the actual process of stem cell differentiation and the specific cellular, genetic, and molecular events that lead to successful maturation and incorporation into the surrounding tissue, nor is it known which adult cell population (e.g. myoblasts vs. bone marrow mesenchymal cells) is the ideal population for transplant. Future investigations should help answer many of these questions and determine whether the promise of CCT can be realized.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

REFERENCE

1. Suzuki K, Brand NJ, Smolenski RT, et al. Development of a novel method for cell transplantation through the coronary artery. Circulation 2000;19(suppl 3):III359-III364.

The information and photographs for "On the Forefront" were provided by Mark A. Oyama, DVM, DACVIM (cardiology), Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61802.