Every day I field phone calls and emails from people looking for a stem cell therapy to help them cope with everything from arthritis to cancer.

Unsafe stem cell clinics

Often, they mention seeing an ad for a clinic online or in a local newspaper claiming its stem cell therapies can fix anything and ask whether they are legitimate.

Even after I explain that these clinics’ therapies haven’t been tested in clinical trials and that there’s scant evidence they are even safe, let alone effective, I know a good chunk of callers will try them anyway.

Now a survey by the Mayo Clinic takes a deeper dive into why people are willing to put science aside and open up their wallets to go to predatory stem cell clinics for so-called “therapies”.

Don’t believe the hype

In a news release, Dr. Zubin Master, a co‑author of the study, says hype and hope draw many patients in. “We learned that many patients interested in stem cells had beliefs not supported by current medical evidence. For example, many thought stem cells were better than surgery or the standard of care.”

The survey asked 533 people who approached the Mayo Clinic’s Regenerative Medicine Therapeutic Suites for help with arthritis or musculoskeletal problems three questions:

• Why are you interested in stem cell treatment for your condition?
• How did you learn about stem cell treatment for your condition?
• Have you contacted a stem cell clinic?

Forty‑six percent believed stem cell therapy would help them avoid or delay a hip or knee replacement or was a better option than surgery. Another 26 percent believed it would ease arthritis‑related pain.

Most respondents held these beliefs despite little or no supporting evidence. Many said they learned about these treatments online or through friends and family.

Finding safe clinical trials

These treatments are expensive. They often cost thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars. Insurance does not cover them. Yet many patients still turn to these clinics because they do not like their alternatives, especially surgery.

Promising stem cell research is underway across the country to find real solutions for arthritic joints and related problems. The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has invested almost $24 million in this research. But until these approaches prove effective and, hopefully, gain FDA approval, the public should be cautious of unproven treatments.