A world-first study to identify people who could be stem cell super donors has been launched in the UK. Scientists will analyse DNA samples from up to 5,000 past donors to find out which genes influence how many stem cells people are able to donate. The GeSTy study, funded by NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), will look for signs of any genes associated with higher stem-cell yields.
Stem cells special types of cells that can develop into many different types of cells in the body. It means they can be used to treat a wide range of conditions, from bone marrow transplants to replacing cells damaged by chemotherapy. However, more than 400 UK patients each year are unable to have this potentially life-saving treatment because they lack a suitable donor, NHSBT says.
Around 40% of donors do not give a high enough stem cell yield on the first donation, the health authority said. Scientists are hoping answers may lie in the samples held by the NHS Blood and Transplant registry and the Anthony Nolan registry of past donors. Dr Rachel Peck, clinical research fellow at NHSBT – one of the study leads, said: “NHS Blood and Transplant is carrying out this study because there can be big stem yield variations between fairly identical people.
“We think genes are likely to play a big part in that. “There are around seven to eight genes we suspect play a part but the study will be ‘gene agnostic’; we’ll see if there are effects from genes we have not studied before. “It’s likel.