title: Translating stem cell research to cardiac disease therapies: pitfalls and prospects for improvement.
abstract: Over the past 2 decades, there have been numerous stem cell studies focused on cardiac diseases, ranging from proof-of-concept to phase 2 trials. This series of papers focuses on the legacy of these studies and the outlook for future treatment of cardiac diseases with stem cell therapies. The first section by Drs. Rosen and Myerburg is an independent review that analyzes the basic science and translational strategies supporting the rapid advance of stem cell technology to the clinic, the philosophies behind them, trial designs, and means for going forward that may impact favorably on progress. The second and third sections were collected as responses to the initial section of this review. The commentary by Drs. Francis and Cole discusses the review by Drs. Rosen and Myerburg and details how trial outcomes can be affected by noise, poor trial design (particularly the absence of blinding), and normal human tendencies toward optimism and denial. The final, independent paper by Dr. Marbán takes a different perspective concerning the potential for positive impact of stem cell research applied to heart disease and future prospects for its clinical application. (Compiled by the JACC editors).
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pharmacology and Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York. Electronic address: mrr1@columbia.edu.
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Rosen
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida.
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Myerburg
authors.affiliation: International Centre for Circulatory Health, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom. Electronic address: Darrel@DrFrancis.Org.
authors.forename: Darrel P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.affiliation: International Centre for Circulatory Health, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Graham D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.affiliation: Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute, Los Angeles, California. Electronic address: Eduardo.Marban@csmc.edu.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marbán
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000639:trends*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical / Q000639:trends; D014481:United States
keywords: cell-based therapy; heart diseases; research design; stem cell research; stem cell transplantation; tissue-based therapy