Stem cell therapy for cardiovascular diseases: a progressive journey

This review presents the findings from a select group of clinical trials of stem cell therapy for both acute and chronic heart disease. These studies are used to highlight the insight gained through such investigations and the remaining challenges.

Clinical trials assessing the use of adult stem cells for treating patients with heart disease have produced encouraging results that suggest these therapies are well tolerated and could potentially improve clinical outcomes, including left ventricular function, infarct size and the occurrence of future adverse clinical events. However, most have shown only modest benefits, and the results often appear to be inconsistent across trials. Nevertheless, analyses from these trials have provided useful information regarding factors that affect the potency of these therapies, the mechanisms underlying their effects and the patient populations most likely to derive benefits.

Stem cell therapy has the potential to overcome the limited regenerative capacity of the heart and induce cardiac repair and regeneration. The challenge lies in finding the most effective approach, which can only be determined through larger rigorously conducted clinical trials.