iPS Cell - Clinical Study of Spinal Cord Injury: Patient Reported Improvement Discusses his Decision-Making

Recently NHK News on-live reported the following:

iPS細胞 脊髄損傷の臨床研究 改善報告の患者が決断の心境語る

2025年9月28日 1時28分

ことし3月、慶応大学などのグループがiPS細胞を使った脊髄損傷の臨床研究で症状の改善がみられた世界初のケースと報告した患者の1人が初めて取材に応じ、研究への参加を決断した際の心境を語りました。

iPS細胞をめぐっては、ことしに入り、治療の実用化を目指した研究成果の発表などの動きが相次いでいます。

このうち慶応大学などのグループは事故などで脊髄を損傷し体が動かせなくなった患者4人にiPS細胞から作った神経のもとになる細胞を移植して運動機能を評価する臨床研究を行い、重症度の同じ患者がリハビリだけ行った場合よりも改善がみられたとことし3月に報告しています。

グループはiPS細胞を使った脊髄損傷の臨床研究で症状の改善がみられた世界初のケースとしていて、今回、2年前に移植を受けた患者が初めて取材に応じました。

この男性患者は4人の中で最も改善がみられ、スプーンなどを手に固定することで食事をとれるようになったほか自分で体重を支えられるようになり、歩く練習も始めたということです。

男性は「世界で例のない手術なので受けるかどうかすぐには決められませんでした。不安が9割、期待が1割でしたが可能性にかけようと決断しました。初めて足が動いたときはうれしくてすぐに妻に伝えました。リハビリは大変で痛みやしびれに悩まされていますが、周りの励ましもあり頑張っています。今回のものを含めいろいろな治療の研究が広がればと思います」と話していました。

慶応大学の中村雅也教授は、「中枢神経は一度傷つくと再生しないと信じられてきた。研究には手応えを感じていて、今後症例を重ね確証に近づけていきたい」と話していました。

研究グループは今後、国の承認を目指した治験を行うとしています。

Translation

Recently NHK News online reported the following:

iPS Cell - Clinical Study of Spinal Cord Injury: Patient Reported Improvement Discusses his Decision-Making

September 28, 2025, 1:28 AM

In March of this year, a group including Keio University reported the world's first case of clinical study using iPS cells showed improvement in spinal cord injury symptoms. One patient spoke for the first time about his thoughts when he decided to participate in the study.

This year, there was a series of activity surrounding iPS cells, including the announcement of research results etc. that aimed at the practical application of iPS cells for treatment.

One of these groups, including Keio University, conducted a clinical study in which four patients who had suffered spinal cord injury due to an accident or other causes that made them unable to move their bodies were transplanted with nerve-forming cells created from iPS cells to evaluate their motor function. In March this year, they reported that the improvement was greater compared to those of patients with the same severity who underwent rehabilitation alone.

The group claimed the world's first case of symptomatic improvement in a clinical study of spinal cord injury using iPS cells. Now, for the first time, a patient who received the transplant two years ago spoke to us.

Of the four patients, this male showed the greatest improvement, being able to eat by holding a spoon in his hand, and becoming able to support his own weight, and even began to practise walking.

The man commented, "Because this is a surgery that has never been seen before in the world, I couldn't decide right away whether to have it. I was 90% anxious and 10% excited, but I decided to take a chance. I was so happy when I was able to move my legs for the first time that I immediately told my wife. Rehabilitation is difficult, and I'm tormented by pain and numbness, but with the encouragement from those around me, I'm doing my best. I hope that research into various treatments, including this one, will spread."

Professor Nakamura Masaya (中村雅也)of Keio University commented, " It was once believed that the central nervous system would be incapable of regeneration once damaged.” We are seeing positive results from our research, and we would like to continue to accumulate cases to solidify our conclusions."

The research group planned to conduct clinical trials with the aim of gaining national approval.

              So, researchers in Japan have reported the world's first case of symptomatic improvement in a clinical study of spinal cord injury using iPS cells. One patient is able to eat by holding a spoon in his hand, and becoming able to support his own weight, and even begins to practise walking. Apparently, this research has challenged our belief that the central nervous system does not regenerate once damaged.