Evidence from the first phase of tests at the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, using an injection of the G-SCF hormone to stimulate the release of blood vessel-forming stem cells has found patients experience lower levels of pain, improved heart function and increased quality of life using the experimental injections.
Executive Director of the Institute, Professor Bob Graham said, "The 20 patients trialing the innovative treatment responded extremely positively, with most experiencing a reduction in angina and finding that they were able to reduce their intake of pain relief with marked improvements in some patients."
However Dr Graham said the first round of testing was designed to prove safety only with the second, more extensive, round to test for efficacy.
"The trial was not placebo controlled and designed to look for efficacy, it was designed for safety and it showed that the drug was safe and it provided very suggestive evidence that the drug would also be effective."
"The second trial is designed to specifically look at efficacy. We're optimistic because some of the results were very dramatic," he said.
Professor Jeremy Pearson of the British Heart Foundation gave the results a cautious welcome, "Research into how we can harness stem cells to repair or replace diseased blood vessels is exciting. It brings fresh hope for new disease treatments. But this study has a way to go before it may offer practical help."
