Spina bifida is a congenital neural tube defect that affects about 1,500 to 2,000 children in the United States every year. It results in the fetal spine not closing properly during the first month of pregnancy, causing damage to the spinal cord and nerves. While fetal surgery has been used in the past to treat this defect, many children still struggle with long-term complications and mobility, as this method does not fully prevent nerve damage.
A University of California, Davis Health research team has conducted a clinical trial, known as the CuRe Trial, combining prenatal surgery with stem cells to treat spina bifida before birth. The study tested whether adding a layer of human placenta-derived stem cells to standard fetal surgery could be done effectively and safely for both mothers and babies.
Using stem cells during fetal surgery may help to treat spina bifida before birth.
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The surgery is done by making a small opening in the uterus in which surgeons can lift the fetus to the incision point, position the fetus correctly, and then expose the back to reveal the spinal defect. A small patch of living stem cells, taken from donated placentas, is placed directly over the fetus’s exposed spinal cord, where it is then covered, and the tissue is left to regenerate. This treatment is the first in-utero stem cell therapy for spina bifida, aiming to improve the outcomes for children by protecting the development of the spinal cord from further damage before birth.
Researchers reported no safety concerns related to the stem cells and no infections, and MRI scans in all infants revealed reversal of hindbrain herniation, which normally is a common finding for babies with spina bifida. The CuRe Trial is also working to explore if stem cells can help improve mobility and quality of life in those with spina bifida. These findings indicate surgical success and a hopeful approach that could improve outcomes and open the door to new regenerative treatments for this congenital condition.
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