An overview of stem cell-based clinical trials in China

Adult human stem cells are capable of maintaining, generating, and replacing terminally differentiated cells within their own specific tissue. Data suggest that adult stem cells (ASCs) generate differentiated cells beyond their own tissue boundaries, a process termed developmental plasticity. Since early reports of developmental plasticity in animal models, researchers have made enormous advances in moving toward clinically applicable treatment options with stem cells from both bone marrow and peripheral blood. It seems China is entering this new therapeutic era more rapidly than other countries around the world. In this review, we focus on therapeutic applications of ASCs derived from bone marrow and peripheral blood. Furthermore, we also discuss concerns related to regulations monitoring stem cell-based clinical trials.