Do human bone marrow stem cells co-cultured with neonatal rat cardiomyocytes display limited cardiomyogenic plasticity?
This in vitro co-culture study obtained no convincing evidence of transdifferentiation of either MSC or HSC into functional cardiomyocytes. Nevertheless, induction of troponin T was observed in MSC and HSC, and GATA-4 in MSC. However, no morphologic changes could be detected by immunofluorescence or by TEM. These data could explain why only limited functional improvement was reported in clinical stem cell trials.
Stage IV breast cancer patients with an IPT treated surgically had significantly improved OS. Radiation to the primary was also associated with improved survival, but this was evident only with adjustment for the effect of surgery. These findings may be limited by selection bias. Completion of ongoing prospective randomized trials is needed to conclusively determine whether stage IV patients with an IPT should be offered aggressive locoregional therapy.