About Dr Stanley Jones
Dr. Stanley Jones is Board Certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery and is also certified by the American Board of Spine Surgery. He started using platelet rich plasma before anyone else in the U.S. had established themselves as users of what is now known as PRP.
In 2009, he was taken down by a crippling autoimmune arthritis which was devastating in nature and caused him to lose many days of work. On many occasions, he was unable to participate in any surgical procedures for which he had been previously scheduled. He had started using medications which made him very ill and he looked for alternative measures for treatment. He found stem cells in Asia as a substitute for medication and he went to Korea and Japan for treatment of his disabling arthritis. Within five months of treatment, he was completely pain free and resumed all his normal activities.
Dr. Jones was the first person to bring commercially available stem cells to America with the help of Governor Rick Perry.
You can contact Dr Jones at:
Phone: 713.590.1000
www.celltexbank.com
Click here to join us on Facebook
Click here to join us on Twitter
Click here to view a video on Celltex
Click here to view a brief animation on our process
Questions & Answers
Q: I received treatment (100M IT/200M IV) in Cancun in August, 2013. Initially my response was very positive - much better movement with a cane and more energy. After about 6 weeks these improvements flattened out and I have since gone back to pre-treatment levels. Would a massive dose, double or triple the last treatment, have any better lasting effects? I realize research is inconclusive on this option but I know some of us would be more than willing to take a chance.
A: A massive dose might sound very attractive but, from what I have seen, there seems to be a finite amount of cells that the body can integrate at one time. I generally recommend repeated dosing that will need to be correlated to your symptoms and disease state.
When one suffers from a degenerative condition, the body is losing healthy cells. Stem cells have the potential to repair and regenerate cells and tissues that need rebuilding, but eventually, the degeneration would continue. Regenerative therapies, in most cases, would need to be repeated to continue the regeneration process in my opinion.
I continue to receive my cells every 6-9 months to maintain my results. My symptoms have not returned significantly but I receive cells to delay the degenerative process. Results will vary from person to person depending on many factors such as the nature of the disease and its progression.
Q: The Mayo Clinic just announced a clinical trial for ALS using stem cells from adipose tissue, expanded doses up to 100 million. Is this similar to the service Celltex provides to doctors for treating patients with degenerative diseases? Also, are doctors using cell services at Celltex going to publish case studies on their patient's results? How does Dr. Jones track patients and when will that information be released to the public?
A: Celltex uses a patented process to culture autologous mesenchymal stem cells that are genetically, functionally and phenotypically identical to the original cells isolated from the patient’s fat. I understand the Mayo Clinic is also using autologous mesenchymal stem cells that are cultured. Celltex is working with clinical investigators, from premier academic institutions, on three different clinical trials. Celltex provides cells to institutes for research purposes.
In 2012 Celltex launched a clinical trial to assess safety. This data is being analyzed by a clinical research organization and evaluated by biostatisticians. After the completion of the trial, Celltex had to put a hold on the analysis. Recently the analysis resumed and Celltex plans to complete the study report soon.
Before my patients go to Mexico for treatment, I typically evaluate them to get a baseline then work to conduct four follow up visits one, three, six and twelve months after treatment. I am not alone in this effort. Celltex has a growing network of physicians around the country who are participating in the evaluation of patients before and after receiving stem cell therapy in Mexico. The physicians in Mexico are also tracking and monitoring the patients they see for stem cell therapy. These individual case reports can be published and available to the public.
Q: I have had CIDP since September, 2011 that has ended in axonal degeneration. I can't stand up alone. I have to use a walker. I have 2 children and dream of walking and having the nerves regenerated and reconnected with muscles. There is a method used by Dr. Richard Burt, that wipes out the immune system as part of the stem cell treatment. Do you advise that? What is your opinion of what might help me to walk again or at least regain some mobility?
A: I think the method you ask about involves a high dose of cyclophosphamide (a drug which reduces the function of the immune system) and ATG (a protein that kills the immune cells that are thought to be causing your disease) then infusing your own hematopoietic stem cells. I have seen this method in literature used in other conditions such as MS patients with the same rationale.
The results reported have been fairly good with significant improvements however literature indicates there are severe side effects associated with the treatment. Please visit this website for more information: http://www.drugs.com/sfx/cyclophosphamide-side-effects.html
Autologous mesenchymal stem cells have the ability to regulate your immune system. Literature and Celltex’s experience indicates this phenomenon in a variety of different autoimmune diseases and in different disease stages. With the ability to regulate it normally, you would not need to suppress the immune system. Please take a look at this paper: http://www.translational-medicine.com/content/9/1/181
As a physician, I encourage patients to evaluate the risks versus the benefits. In my opinion, less invasive treatments with little to no side effects are the best to start. If there is no benefit after less invasive treatments then it may be necessary to evaluate more aggressive treatments with higher risks. You should discuss with your physician the potential risks and benefits of all of your treatment options.
Q: My wife is now in her fourth year since being diagnosed with dementia. Only recently have I come upon material and discussions with various treatment centers and I am getting mixed feedback on the merits of their treatments. Apparently, the IV injected stem cells (MSC's) do not yield any benefit. One clinic suggested direct injection to the brain via a shunt if their IRB would approve it. My wife was assessed as being at the advanced stage already and I would like to help her even if it is a minimal amount. She takes Aricept and Namenda and has tried coconut oil which only raised her cholesterol levels. She also takes B-12 and MCT oil. Would stem cell treatment help? How risky is the direct injection via shunt in your opinion?
A: Stem cell therapies, even those that are mesenchymal stem cells are not equal. You should carefully evaluate with your physician the options for these therapies. Research shows that consistent treatments of repeated doses are beneficial in animals. While animals and humans are not the same, animal studies help us understand the way these cells move through the body, called “homing”. I’ve attached a mouse study using our cells for the treatment of Alzheimer’s. This type of mouse model is often used to mimic Alzheimer’s, dementia and Parkinson’s. The study shows that the stem cells, can in fact cross the blood brain barrier and actually reach the brain.
Based on these results and those of patients I have personally seen who have received treatment, I believe IV MSCs do help with neurological conditions. However, every case of dementia is different and how a person responds to treatment may depend on the disease’s severity and duration. These factors make it difficult to assess how many treatments it would take to show improvements. The more progressed the case, the more treatments would most likely be needed for a regenerative effect, in my opinion.
Every medical intervention comes with risks. You and your physician should evaluate less invasive methods such as IV and intrathecal administrations before trying direct injection of the brain, in my opinion.
Here is a link to an article that might be of interest to you: http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0045757
Q: Dr. Jones, You were inspired to start Celltex after you used this therapy yourself. Can you discuss how it has helped you and compare the outcome from stem cell therapy vs the traditional approach used for your condition?
A: In 2009, I developed a terrible autoimmune inflammatory arthritis that created so much inflammation and pain that I was pretty much incapacitated. In addition, I had an old hip injury that was causing so much pain that I was in line for a hip replacement. My overall misery led me to explore other treatment options because conventional medicines were making me very ill. I developed a severe case of systemic candidiasis after taking some medicines for my condition.
Prior to my own treatment, I didn’t know anything medically about stem cells. When I became the patient and conventional treatments were not working, my entire perspective changed. I was on a mission to find a solution that modern medicine couldn’t fix. I explored many different stem cell therapies. I was amazed at the wealth of information and the research that had been done. There were many ongoing clinical trials using mesenchymal stem cells and publications on their function and effectiveness. I had reservations on whether my cells were any good because of my disease, but, as I would for any patient, I assessed the safety of using donor cells and I was most comfortable using my own stem cells.
I couldn’t believe how easy the therapy was. After my fat was extracted and my cells cultured, I received a series of three IV infusions and a direct injection of cells into my hip joint. The doctor who injected my hip in Japan said that it was too far gone and probably wouldn’t work. I was in Asia and had the stem cells already prepared, so I asked them to please proceed. Because of the benefits I saw in my health and quality of life after those treatments I have continued to receive stem cell therapy regularly. It’s been five years since my initial treatment and I have avoided a hip replacement. I am more active than I’ve been in years. Stem cells have changed my life and in Asia, I met so many others that also benefited. I made it my mission to bring the technology that restored my life to this continent.
Q: Do you offer autologous stem cell treatment for subluxated kneecaps with secondary osteoarthritis as well as herniated/bulging/degenerative discs in the cervical region of the spine? What are the current options for this condition? I have the same question for a torn meniscus and cyst in one knee. I may also have a thoracic degenerative/bulging disc problem and I have bone rubbing on bone from L-1 to S-1.
A: Speaking generally on orthopedic conditions, mesenchymal stem cells have the potential to differentiate into new cartilage, as well as lower inflammation in the body. While some of the functions of the stem cells may help with pain, you may be in need of surgical interventions. Your treatment protocol would depend on the severity of the condition so my advice would be to see an orthopedic specialist in your area who is familiar with surgical options, drug therapy, and stem cell treatment options to evaluate what is right for you.
Q: For autoimmune diseases, drugs can slow progression and even reduce symptoms, but the drugs also suppress the immune system. How is stem cell treatment different?
A: There is no evidence that I am aware of that autologous mesenchymal stem cells suppress the immune system. They work very differently from the drugs you are describing. Mesenchymal stem cells are actively involved in immune system activity, facilitating the body’s response to inflammation and disease.
In autoimmune diseases, the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys healthy tissues in the body. There are all kinds of autoimmune conditions with a variety of different symptoms. Regardless of the symptoms, an autoimmune disease is typically focused on the activity of the immune system. If mesenchymal stem cells can help regulate the immune system then the body could repair itself (like it normally does) rather than constantly destroying itself.
Q: I have friends who report good response to your treatments, but I also have some that apparently received little or no benefit. Can you comment on why this would happen? What makes one patient respond well and another not at all? A: The success of stem cell treatment depends on many different factors: how long someone has had the condition, how much degeneration has taken place, and how much treatment they’ve received. I wish stem cell treatment were as simple as a single injection that would solve everything but it just doesn’t work that way. This is a regenerative therapy and some people may need more regeneration than others. From what I have seen, the cells can only do so much in a treatment and the more degeneration that has occurred, the more treatments the body needs for all the repairing it needs to do.
Q: There was a news announcement that Baylor College and Celltex are going to do a clinical trial together for men's health. Any update on this or other clinical trials in the works for Celltex?
A: Yes, the application on the Baylor clinical trial is complete and under final review. It is expected to be submitted to the FDA no later than April. We also are working on two other protocols with academic institutions in Texas studying a neurological condition and cancer. Details of these studies will be announced after the protocols are submitted to the FDA.
Q: Do you see Celltex returning to the U.S. to offer patient treatments anytime in the near future or are FDA regulations making it too expensive to even consider it? Recently, there was a bipartisan initiative introduced called, "The Regenerative Medicine Promotion Act." Do you see this as a good thing that would speed the use of adult stem cells for clinical use or do you see it as just more ways for research to be funded while patients wait and suffer?
A: Celltex is working now to make cells available to U.S. clinician investigators involved in clinical trials. “The Regenerative Medicine Promotion Act” looks like it is designed to promote federal funding for stem cell research. The other objective is to have funding to develop a regulatory environment to help facilitate the speed of approvals. The way the act is written is that it authorizes the FDA to conduct regulatory research to help approval of regenerative medicine products. I suppose that if this happens, the FDA could change some of the regulatory pathways and may lead to quicker approvals. In summary, I think it could indirectly help; it is one step forward in the right direction.
Dr. Stanley Jones is Board Certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery and is also certified by the American Board of Spine Surgery. He started using platelet rich plasma before anyone else in the U.S. had established themselves as users of what is now known as PRP.
In 2009, he was taken down by a crippling autoimmune arthritis which was devastating in nature and caused him to lose many days of work. On many occasions, he was unable to participate in any surgical procedures for which he had been previously scheduled. He had started using medications which made him very ill and he looked for alternative measures for treatment. He found stem cells in Asia as a substitute for medication and he went to Korea and Japan for treatment of his disabling arthritis. Within five months of treatment, he was completely pain free and resumed all his normal activities.
Dr. Jones was the first person to bring commercially available stem cells to America with the help of Governor Rick Perry.
You can contact Dr Jones at:
Phone: 713.590.1000
www.celltexbank.com
Click here to join us on Facebook
Click here to join us on Twitter
Click here to view a video on Celltex
Click here to view a brief animation on our process
Questions & Answers
Q: I received treatment (100M IT/200M IV) in Cancun in August, 2013. Initially my response was very positive - much better movement with a cane and more energy. After about 6 weeks these improvements flattened out and I have since gone back to pre-treatment levels. Would a massive dose, double or triple the last treatment, have any better lasting effects? I realize research is inconclusive on this option but I know some of us would be more than willing to take a chance.
A: A massive dose might sound very attractive but, from what I have seen, there seems to be a finite amount of cells that the body can integrate at one time. I generally recommend repeated dosing that will need to be correlated to your symptoms and disease state.
When one suffers from a degenerative condition, the body is losing healthy cells. Stem cells have the potential to repair and regenerate cells and tissues that need rebuilding, but eventually, the degeneration would continue. Regenerative therapies, in most cases, would need to be repeated to continue the regeneration process in my opinion.
I continue to receive my cells every 6-9 months to maintain my results. My symptoms have not returned significantly but I receive cells to delay the degenerative process. Results will vary from person to person depending on many factors such as the nature of the disease and its progression.
Q: The Mayo Clinic just announced a clinical trial for ALS using stem cells from adipose tissue, expanded doses up to 100 million. Is this similar to the service Celltex provides to doctors for treating patients with degenerative diseases? Also, are doctors using cell services at Celltex going to publish case studies on their patient's results? How does Dr. Jones track patients and when will that information be released to the public?
A: Celltex uses a patented process to culture autologous mesenchymal stem cells that are genetically, functionally and phenotypically identical to the original cells isolated from the patient’s fat. I understand the Mayo Clinic is also using autologous mesenchymal stem cells that are cultured. Celltex is working with clinical investigators, from premier academic institutions, on three different clinical trials. Celltex provides cells to institutes for research purposes.
In 2012 Celltex launched a clinical trial to assess safety. This data is being analyzed by a clinical research organization and evaluated by biostatisticians. After the completion of the trial, Celltex had to put a hold on the analysis. Recently the analysis resumed and Celltex plans to complete the study report soon.
Before my patients go to Mexico for treatment, I typically evaluate them to get a baseline then work to conduct four follow up visits one, three, six and twelve months after treatment. I am not alone in this effort. Celltex has a growing network of physicians around the country who are participating in the evaluation of patients before and after receiving stem cell therapy in Mexico. The physicians in Mexico are also tracking and monitoring the patients they see for stem cell therapy. These individual case reports can be published and available to the public.
Q: I have had CIDP since September, 2011 that has ended in axonal degeneration. I can't stand up alone. I have to use a walker. I have 2 children and dream of walking and having the nerves regenerated and reconnected with muscles. There is a method used by Dr. Richard Burt, that wipes out the immune system as part of the stem cell treatment. Do you advise that? What is your opinion of what might help me to walk again or at least regain some mobility?
A: I think the method you ask about involves a high dose of cyclophosphamide (a drug which reduces the function of the immune system) and ATG (a protein that kills the immune cells that are thought to be causing your disease) then infusing your own hematopoietic stem cells. I have seen this method in literature used in other conditions such as MS patients with the same rationale.
The results reported have been fairly good with significant improvements however literature indicates there are severe side effects associated with the treatment. Please visit this website for more information: http://www.drugs.com/sfx/cyclophosphamide-side-effects.html
Autologous mesenchymal stem cells have the ability to regulate your immune system. Literature and Celltex’s experience indicates this phenomenon in a variety of different autoimmune diseases and in different disease stages. With the ability to regulate it normally, you would not need to suppress the immune system. Please take a look at this paper: http://www.translational-medicine.com/content/9/1/181
As a physician, I encourage patients to evaluate the risks versus the benefits. In my opinion, less invasive treatments with little to no side effects are the best to start. If there is no benefit after less invasive treatments then it may be necessary to evaluate more aggressive treatments with higher risks. You should discuss with your physician the potential risks and benefits of all of your treatment options.
Q: My wife is now in her fourth year since being diagnosed with dementia. Only recently have I come upon material and discussions with various treatment centers and I am getting mixed feedback on the merits of their treatments. Apparently, the IV injected stem cells (MSC's) do not yield any benefit. One clinic suggested direct injection to the brain via a shunt if their IRB would approve it. My wife was assessed as being at the advanced stage already and I would like to help her even if it is a minimal amount. She takes Aricept and Namenda and has tried coconut oil which only raised her cholesterol levels. She also takes B-12 and MCT oil. Would stem cell treatment help? How risky is the direct injection via shunt in your opinion?
A: Stem cell therapies, even those that are mesenchymal stem cells are not equal. You should carefully evaluate with your physician the options for these therapies. Research shows that consistent treatments of repeated doses are beneficial in animals. While animals and humans are not the same, animal studies help us understand the way these cells move through the body, called “homing”. I’ve attached a mouse study using our cells for the treatment of Alzheimer’s. This type of mouse model is often used to mimic Alzheimer’s, dementia and Parkinson’s. The study shows that the stem cells, can in fact cross the blood brain barrier and actually reach the brain.
Based on these results and those of patients I have personally seen who have received treatment, I believe IV MSCs do help with neurological conditions. However, every case of dementia is different and how a person responds to treatment may depend on the disease’s severity and duration. These factors make it difficult to assess how many treatments it would take to show improvements. The more progressed the case, the more treatments would most likely be needed for a regenerative effect, in my opinion.
Every medical intervention comes with risks. You and your physician should evaluate less invasive methods such as IV and intrathecal administrations before trying direct injection of the brain, in my opinion.
Here is a link to an article that might be of interest to you: http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0045757
Q: Dr. Jones, You were inspired to start Celltex after you used this therapy yourself. Can you discuss how it has helped you and compare the outcome from stem cell therapy vs the traditional approach used for your condition?
A: In 2009, I developed a terrible autoimmune inflammatory arthritis that created so much inflammation and pain that I was pretty much incapacitated. In addition, I had an old hip injury that was causing so much pain that I was in line for a hip replacement. My overall misery led me to explore other treatment options because conventional medicines were making me very ill. I developed a severe case of systemic candidiasis after taking some medicines for my condition.
Prior to my own treatment, I didn’t know anything medically about stem cells. When I became the patient and conventional treatments were not working, my entire perspective changed. I was on a mission to find a solution that modern medicine couldn’t fix. I explored many different stem cell therapies. I was amazed at the wealth of information and the research that had been done. There were many ongoing clinical trials using mesenchymal stem cells and publications on their function and effectiveness. I had reservations on whether my cells were any good because of my disease, but, as I would for any patient, I assessed the safety of using donor cells and I was most comfortable using my own stem cells.
I couldn’t believe how easy the therapy was. After my fat was extracted and my cells cultured, I received a series of three IV infusions and a direct injection of cells into my hip joint. The doctor who injected my hip in Japan said that it was too far gone and probably wouldn’t work. I was in Asia and had the stem cells already prepared, so I asked them to please proceed. Because of the benefits I saw in my health and quality of life after those treatments I have continued to receive stem cell therapy regularly. It’s been five years since my initial treatment and I have avoided a hip replacement. I am more active than I’ve been in years. Stem cells have changed my life and in Asia, I met so many others that also benefited. I made it my mission to bring the technology that restored my life to this continent.
Q: Do you offer autologous stem cell treatment for subluxated kneecaps with secondary osteoarthritis as well as herniated/bulging/degenerative discs in the cervical region of the spine? What are the current options for this condition? I have the same question for a torn meniscus and cyst in one knee. I may also have a thoracic degenerative/bulging disc problem and I have bone rubbing on bone from L-1 to S-1.
A: Speaking generally on orthopedic conditions, mesenchymal stem cells have the potential to differentiate into new cartilage, as well as lower inflammation in the body. While some of the functions of the stem cells may help with pain, you may be in need of surgical interventions. Your treatment protocol would depend on the severity of the condition so my advice would be to see an orthopedic specialist in your area who is familiar with surgical options, drug therapy, and stem cell treatment options to evaluate what is right for you.
Q: For autoimmune diseases, drugs can slow progression and even reduce symptoms, but the drugs also suppress the immune system. How is stem cell treatment different?
A: There is no evidence that I am aware of that autologous mesenchymal stem cells suppress the immune system. They work very differently from the drugs you are describing. Mesenchymal stem cells are actively involved in immune system activity, facilitating the body’s response to inflammation and disease.
In autoimmune diseases, the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys healthy tissues in the body. There are all kinds of autoimmune conditions with a variety of different symptoms. Regardless of the symptoms, an autoimmune disease is typically focused on the activity of the immune system. If mesenchymal stem cells can help regulate the immune system then the body could repair itself (like it normally does) rather than constantly destroying itself.
Q: I have friends who report good response to your treatments, but I also have some that apparently received little or no benefit. Can you comment on why this would happen? What makes one patient respond well and another not at all? A: The success of stem cell treatment depends on many different factors: how long someone has had the condition, how much degeneration has taken place, and how much treatment they’ve received. I wish stem cell treatment were as simple as a single injection that would solve everything but it just doesn’t work that way. This is a regenerative therapy and some people may need more regeneration than others. From what I have seen, the cells can only do so much in a treatment and the more degeneration that has occurred, the more treatments the body needs for all the repairing it needs to do.
Q: There was a news announcement that Baylor College and Celltex are going to do a clinical trial together for men's health. Any update on this or other clinical trials in the works for Celltex?
A: Yes, the application on the Baylor clinical trial is complete and under final review. It is expected to be submitted to the FDA no later than April. We also are working on two other protocols with academic institutions in Texas studying a neurological condition and cancer. Details of these studies will be announced after the protocols are submitted to the FDA.
Q: Do you see Celltex returning to the U.S. to offer patient treatments anytime in the near future or are FDA regulations making it too expensive to even consider it? Recently, there was a bipartisan initiative introduced called, "The Regenerative Medicine Promotion Act." Do you see this as a good thing that would speed the use of adult stem cells for clinical use or do you see it as just more ways for research to be funded while patients wait and suffer?
A: Celltex is working now to make cells available to U.S. clinician investigators involved in clinical trials. “The Regenerative Medicine Promotion Act” looks like it is designed to promote federal funding for stem cell research. The other objective is to have funding to develop a regulatory environment to help facilitate the speed of approvals. The way the act is written is that it authorizes the FDA to conduct regulatory research to help approval of regenerative medicine products. I suppose that if this happens, the FDA could change some of the regulatory pathways and may lead to quicker approvals. In summary, I think it could indirectly help; it is one step forward in the right direction.
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