Embryo Cells' Promise Cited In NIH Study
Call for More Research Toughens Bush Choice
By Ceci Connolly
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, July 18, 2001; Page A01

Stem cells from adults and embryos both show enormous promise
for treating an array of diseases but at this early stage, cells from
days-old embryos appear to offer certain key advantages, according
to a National Institutes of Health study being released today.

Embryonic stem cells are more plentiful and therefore easier
to extract, can be grown and made to multiply in the laboratory
more easily and appear to have the uncanny ability to develop
into a much wider array of tissues, the report concludes.

Stressing that the work remains very preliminary, the report
states that the only way to address the many uncertainties
around stem cells -- including how well any cells might work
for treating diseases and which ones might work best -- is
to conduct more research on both types.

As President Bush struggles to decide whether to permit
federal funding of the research, the eagerly awaited report
could undercut two possible compromises -- funding only work
on adult cells or only work with the handful of existing
embryonic cell lines. The report states that the only way
to explore the cells' full potential is by examining many different
cell lines and both types of cells.

"To date it is impossible to predict which stem cells -- those
derived from the embryo, the fetus, or the adult -- or which
methods for manipulating the cells, will best meet the needs
of basic research and clinical applications. The answers clearly
lie in conducting more research," according to a 12-page summary
of the report.

The 200-page report, requested by Health and Human Services
Secretary Tommy G. Thompson, is the result of an exhaustive
review of the scientific literature on the subject and represents
the most authoritative assessment to date of the therapeutic
potential and equally large uncertainties surrounding the rapidly
changing field.

The report comes as the debate over the research continues
to intensify. Absent a presidential decision, lawmakers and
advocates on both sides have aggressively joined the fight.

Proponents argue that federal funding is necessary to fully
explore whether the cells could provide treatments for many
diseases. Opponents object to the research because
it requires destroying what they consider potential human life.
The cells are primarily obtained from surplus embryos from
fertility clinics.

The NIH report is due to be released at a Senate hearing today
being convened by two of the most ardent proponents
of federally funded research on all types of stem cells: Sens.
Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Arlen Specter (R-Pa.).

Also at the hearing, Sen. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) is expected
to declare his position on stem cell research. Yesterday,
Capitol Hill buzzed with speculation over what his position
will be because Bush aides have signaled the president
is looking to the heart surgeon for guidance -- and perhaps
some political cover.

"I feel very encouraged about Bill's position," said Sen.
Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) who spoke in favor of embryonic
stem cell research despite his opposition to abortion.

"This is about giving life to compassionate conservatism,"
he said. "Life does not begin in a petri dish; it begins with
a mother. Being pro-life means helping the living as well."

Under guidelines developed by the Clinton administration,
government scientists would be permitted to conduct
experiments on embryonic cells as long as the researchers
did not participate in destroying embryos. Researchers would
only have access to the cells after couples decided they
did not want the embryos themselves and did not want
to donate them to another couple.

Although Thompson supports embryonic stem cell research,
the report by his agency "does not make recommendations
pertaining to the policies governing federal funding
of such research," the authors wrote. It also makes no effort
to analyze the ethical issues raised by the research.

The NIH report does detail apparent shortcomings
in adult stem cells, notably that those cells -- commonly taken
from an individual's blood or bone marrow or skin -- do not have
the flexibility to develop into all types of tissue.

"Current evidence indicates that the capability of adult stem cells
to give rise to many different specialized cell types of more limited
than that of embryonic stem cells," the report states. Adult stem cells
are rare, difficult to identify and there may be "insufficient numbers
of cells available for transplantation."

The report notes, however, that there are possible limitations with
embryonic cells as well. For example, there is some evidence that
the cells could form tumors. "It is not known whether similar results
are observed with adult stem cells," the report states.

The best way to fully understand the potential of different types
of cells is to develop many different cell lines.

"There have been very few studies that compare various stem cells'
lines with each other. It may be that one source proves better for
certain applications, and a different cell source proves better
for others," the report states.

At the first of two dueling congressional hearings this week,
parents of children born from surplus embryos that had been
"adopted" from fertility clinics testified against funding the
research. Mark and Luke Borden, both 9 months old, would
not be alive today if scientists had the opportunity to experiment
on their embryos, their parents said.

As he stood holding the two squirming toddlers, John Borden
equated embryonic stem cell research to the killing
of a burgeoning life. "Which one of my children would you kill?"
he asked. "Which one would you choose to take?"

Nearly three hours later, 12-year-old twins Mollie and Jackie
Singer spoke in support of the research. Describing her eight years
with juvenile diabetes -- "21,000 shots, 28,000 finger pricks
and open heart surgery" -- Mollie implored the policymakers
to do everything in their power to pursue treatments and cures
of illnesses such as hers.

"I don't want Jackie or anyone to go through what I've been
through," she said.

SOURCE: The Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A10256-2001Jul17.html

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