2010-12-15, 12:54 PM
Stereo Wrote:Not everything, just the fast-reproducing ones (anything that relies on copying its genetic code while you're on chemo). Which is of course a lot of important stuff for being healthy, but also cancer. How many people has Bush killed by limiting stem cell research? I realize it's an amazingly loaded question but it really bothers me.
You do realize that virtually all cells rely on copying their DNA in order to produce other cells.
Obelisk Wrote:2.1. And of course eventually the new cells will help kill off the rest of the bad cells, not to mention rebuild the immune system he lost from Chemo.
As I said, that looks like basic logic. And I don't think it's that special since there was a limit to the number of resistant cells to give to the guy. If they could reproduce more of those resistant cells then maybe it's a good discovery. Until then, good luck finding another special donor.
Also the new cells were transplanted homozygous mutant red blood cells which means that they were not involved in fighting off the infection. The patient had several assays run on him for HIV1-RNA and was subsequently treated with antiretrovirals that had an amazing effect pre-transplant in reducing HIV1-RNA to miniscule levels. In other words the antiretroviral treatment was received very well by his body and in my opinion was what got rid of most of the HIV infected cells.