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Published: 19 March 2012

Stem cells in pediatrics: state of the art and future perspectives

Cobi J. Heijnen¹^na1,
Olaf Witt²^na1,
Nico Wulffraat³^na1 &
…
Andreas E. Kulozik⁴^na1

Pediatric Research volume 71, pages 407–409 (2012)Cite this article

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Both the general public and a major proportion of clinicians are excited by the idea that stem cells can be used to repair or replace damaged tissues. In this special issue, a unique, cutting-edge overview is presented of the therapeutic potential and risks of stem cell–based and cancer stem cell–targeted therapies in pediatric medicine. The reviews highlight the already existing clinical applications as well as novel possibilities for the near and not-so-near future. It is clear that the major reasons for the thus-far rather limited use of stem cell therapies are the known and feared risks of cell-based therapies involving hematopoietic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and induced pluripotent stem cells to fight pediatric disorders such as chronic inflammatory diseases, leukemias and solid tumors, primary immunodeficiencies, brain damage, and cardiac disease. The anticipated risk is also a major hurdle for treatments targeting cancer stem cells that represent the other side of the coin. The need to eliminate cancer stem cells in order to prevent recurrence of malignancies is now considered a major target in cancer treatment and a serious scientific challenge.

The first section of this review issue was edited by Andreas Kulozik and contains three articles that focus on the use of hematopoietic stem cells for the treatment of pediatric diseases. The review by Domen et al. (1) provides a broad overview of the current successful clinical use of hematopoietic stem cells for treatment of diverse disorders, including autoimmunity, and an inherited metabolic disease (Hurler syndrome). It also provides in-depth information on the emerging use of hematopoietic stem cells to cure HIV infection as well as a new approach to tolerance induction in organ transplants. In line with the majority of the articles in this review issue, there are still major safety issues, even in cases where stem cell therapy is already widely used, and there is clearly an urgent need to alleviate this pressure in order to increase the applicability of stem cells in pediatrics specifically, and in medicine in general.

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Cobi J. Heijnen, Olaf Witt, Nico Wulffraat and Andreas E. Kulozik: Cobi J. Heijnen, PhD, Andreas E. Kulozik, MD, PhD, Olaf Witt, MD, PhD, and Nico Wulffraat, MD, PhD, are the Guest Editors for this special all-review issue on cell-based and cancer stem cell–targeted therapies in pediatric medicine. Dr Heijnen is professor of neuroimmunology and head of the Laboratory of Neuroimmunology and Developmental Origins of Disease at the University Medical Center Utrecht in Utrecht, The Netherlands. Dr Kulozik is professor of pediatric oncology, hematology, and immunology at Heidelberg University, Germany. Dr Witt is professor of pediatric oncology and hematology and head of CCU Pediatric Oncology at the German Cancer Research Center and University Medical Center Heidelberg, Germany. Dr Wulffraat is head of the Department of Pediatric Immunology at the University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Authors and Affiliations

Laboratory of Neuroimmunology and Developmental Origins of Disease, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Cobi J. Heijnen
Clinical Cooperation Unit Pediatric Oncology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
Olaf Witt
Department of Pediatric Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Nico Wulffraat
Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology, and Immunology, Children’s Hospital, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
Andreas E. Kulozik

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Cobi J. Heijnen
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Olaf Witt
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Nico Wulffraat
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Andreas E. Kulozik
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Correspondence to Cobi J. Heijnen.

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Cobi J. Heijnen, PhD, Andreas E. Kulozik, MD, PhD, Olaf Witt, MD, PhD, and Nico Wulffraat, MD, PhD, are the Guest Editors for this special all-review issue on cell-based and cancer stem cell–targeted therapies in pediatric medicine. Dr Heijnen is professor of neuroimmunology and head of the Laboratory of Neuroimmunology and Developmental Origins of Disease at the University Medical Center Utrecht in Utrecht, The Netherlands. Dr Kulozik is professor of pediatric oncology, hematology, and immunology at Heidelberg University, Germany. Dr Witt is professor of pediatric oncology and hematology and head of CCU Pediatric Oncology at the German Cancer Research Center and University Medical Center Heidelberg, Germany. Dr Wulffraat is head of the Department of Pediatric Immunology at the University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands.

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Heijnen, C., Witt, O., Wulffraat, N. et al. Stem cells in pediatrics: state of the art and future perspectives. Pediatr Res 71, 407–409 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/pr.2012.1

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Published: 19 March 2012
Issue date: April 2012
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/pr.2012.1

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Clinical Utility of Stem Cells in Congenital Anomalies: New Horizons in Pediatric Surgery

The Endogenous Regenerative Capacity of the Damaged Newborn Brain: Boosting Neurogenesis with Mesenchymal Stem Cell Treatment

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