VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam has gained great achievements in stem cell science, but it is facing difficulties due to the lack of a legal framework.

On November 21, the Hue City Central Hospital organized a ceremony to congratulate a cancer patient who had been successfully treated with the progenitor hematopoietic stem cell therapy.

In December 2013, Tran Thi Thu, 49, was brought to the Hue City Central Hospital in a bad state of health, with distended abdomen and shortness of breath.

The physicians found that Thu had ovarian cancer with some metastatic organs. She then received a course of treatment with chemicals and underwent surgery.

After that, they decided to apply the progenitor hematopoietic stem cell therapy. The healthy cells of the patient were selected and protected at a temperature of minus 196o C, and then were transplanted into the patient’s body.

Dr. Nguyen Duy Thang, deputy director of the Hue City Central Hospital, said she was the second patient in Vietnam who has had her life saved with the new technology.

The success brought hope that others could recover as well. After receiving the therapy Nguyen Thi Sau, 52, of Thua Thien – Hue province, became well.

Scientists say in Vietnam stem cell technology has been used for bone marrow transplants and treatment of diseases related to blood, heat, skin and the brain.

However, they said applying the latest medical achievements in the healthcare sector in Vietnam faces difficulties.

Dr. Truong Dinh Kiet, chair of the HCM City Stem Cell Association, said most Vietnamese do not know about stem cell storage service, even though this is considered an advanced method which is not too costly.

Kiet said only 10,000 stem cell samples have been stored at stem cell banks over the last 10 years, which means that only 0.05 percent of the newborn children every year uses the service.

Meanwhile, Dr. Pham Van Phuc from the HCM City University of Natural Sciences, noted that Vietnam still lacks a solid scientific foundation for stem cell technology.

To date, animal-like elements still are used to store and use human stem cells, which reduces the beneficial effects of the stem cell therapy.

According to Phuc, the stem cells cannot be controlled under the necessary standards before they are transplanted into patients’ bodies.

The machines and equipment have become out of date, which has driven up costs to treat patients.

Vietnam still lacks stem cell sources and supporting techniques for stem cell technology.

Kham Pha