Embryonic Stem Cells Caused Cancer in Boy's Brain, TAU Researchers Confirm
Wednesday, March 4, 2009

TAU researchers first to establish a medical risk of controversial stem cell treatments

Adult stem cells are proving to be just as effective for a growing number of medical treatments as those taken from human embryos. Now Tel Aviv University scientists are confirming that the rapid deployment of adult stem cell treatments can avoid deadly risks associated with controversial embryonic stem cell treatments, The Jerusalem Post recently reported.

According to the newspaper, an Israeli youth suffering from a rare genetic disease was sent to Russia to undergo a risky and experimental procedure using embryonic stem cells. Although the patient's Israeli doctors warned the family about the dangers of the experimental procedure, the family went to an unnamed clinic in Moscow for treatments when the boy was 10 and 12.

At age 13, Israeli doctors diagnosed a brain tumor in the patient in Israel. After testing the tumor, Tel Aviv University researchers confirmed that the tumor contained female chromosomes, proving that it had originated in or been caused by the embryonic stem cells from which the treatment was derived.

To read more about this story and the reactions of TAU researchers to the case, click here to read the entire article from The Jerusalem Post.