Possible clinical usefulness of embryonic stem cells

Abstract Are embryonic stem cells being used for therapeutic purposes? The aim of this short report is to review to what extent are embryonic stem cells currently used for therapeutic purposes. To the best of our knowledge, only four clinical trials have been authorised so far to use human embryonic stem cells for therapeutic purposes; two of these are included in the ClinicalTrials.gov data base, and the other two, the study sponsored by Geron and the last one initiated by Advanced Cell Technology in the United Kingdom, are not. But, in addition, Geron withdrew the clinical trial which had been originally proposed by the company itself. This brief review focuses the debate on the use of em…