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Houston Neurologist Discovers Treatment That Could Halt the Progression of ALS

June 28, 2019 by Jacque Amadi 64 Comments

Research Study Information and Photos Provided by Methodist Houston Hospital

Dr. Stanley Appel, neurologist and co-director of the Houston Methodist Hospital Neurology Institute, has been leading the ALS Clinic at Houston Methodist Hospital since its founding in 1982. This was the first multi-disciplinary clinic dedicated to the treatment of and research on ALS. More than 35 years later, he continues to innovate in the field.

His latest research? An immunotherapy treatment that could stop the progression of ALS in its tracks.

After years of research and studies related to the immune system, Dr. Appel and his team discovered a key component accelerating ALS progression- regulatory T cells. Also known as Tregs, regulatory T cells are immune cells that help protect the body from harmful inflammation that accelerates the progression of ALS.

“We found that many of our ALS patients not only had low levels of Tregs, but also that their Tregs were not functioning properly,” said Appel. “We believed that improving the number and function of Tregs in these patients would affect how their disease progressed.”

The research team discovered that after removing blood from patients, the Tregs returned to normal once outside the body. The phase 1 study included three patients who underwent a process called leukapheresis, a procedure in which blood is removed, and white blood cells are separated from red blood cells to increase the number of each patient’s own Tregs before administering the red blood cells intravenously back into the patients.

The phase 1 study, funded in part by the ALS Association, has shown to stop the progression of ALS in patients, a tremendous feat for a disease with only a few treatments available to slow progression. Phase 2 trials will further evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the treatment, and, hopefully, turn this research into an off-the-shelf cellular therapy for ALS patients.

“Our goal is to give a patient hope for the future. We may not cure a patient’s disease, but we can make a difference.” – Dr. Stanley Appel

Filed Under: Research, Research News

Comments

  1. Leo Enderle says

    June 28, 2019 at 3:43 pm

    Why can’t we try a treatment that is of our own body cells? We’re going to die a horrible death anyway. We don’t care. We would try that in a heartbeat.

    Reply
    • Ted Koester says

      July 1, 2019 at 7:01 pm

      I have left my email address. I would like to participate in trials and or have access to treatment. My ALS symptoms began between 3-4 yrs ago. Waiting for FDA approval of this treatment that is just starting phase 2 trials would be too late for me. How might I have access now regardless of side effects ? I would rather die trying something than sitting back waiting for the inevitable.

      Reply
      • Keith Carver says

        July 2, 2019 at 11:48 am

        Amen brother. Prayers for you, and prayers to open the minds and hearts of the FDA to allow anyone and everyone access to treatments, that while experimental, could be life altering/saving.

        Reply
        • Muton Anderson says

          July 9, 2019 at 12:03 am

          I would love to participate..I start clinical trials next month in L.A.
          I rather do this

          Reply
      • sylvia says

        July 5, 2019 at 7:10 pm

        go to clinicaltrials.org you can look it up there. It should have contact information

        Reply
      • Joni Mitchell says

        July 10, 2019 at 4:30 am

        I pray they would allow you to try this. ❤️🙏🏻

        Reply
  2. Sue says

    June 28, 2019 at 4:03 pm

    When will this be available?

    Reply
  3. Oscar Molina says

    June 28, 2019 at 5:34 pm

    A speedier system needs to be developed for these TRIALS. With all due respect, not curing a patient’s disease but making a difference means little to affected patients.

    Reply
  4. Brenda Arnaud says

    June 28, 2019 at 8:25 pm

    That is great news! My daughter has PLS diagnosed Sept. of 2018. Her Dr. is Dr.Appel! She loves him & says he is easy to talk to. I always read medical news about many subjects & just don’t get enough cuz it’s so interesting!

    Reply
    • Marilynn McLaughlin says

      July 1, 2019 at 4:49 pm

      Where is your daughter’s Doctor located.
      My husband has PLS at least they think it’s
      PLS. There is no test or treatment We have gone to Mayo, USF and University of Michigan.

      Reply
      • Gretchen Russell says

        July 4, 2019 at 8:08 am

        He is at Houston Methodist Hospital in Houston Texas.

        Reply
    • Brenda Arnaud says

      July 8, 2019 at 7:54 am

      My daughters doctor is in Houston Texas. She lives in southern Louisiana. Dr. Stanley Appel is her neurologist! She saw a neurologist in Lafayette Louisiana and he diagnosed her with PLS!He sent her to Houston

      Reply
  5. Carol Koonce says

    June 28, 2019 at 10:56 pm

    I pray to God that this is the cure! I lost my precious daughter to ALS February 12, 2016. She was diagnosed at age 22 and lived 10 years after her diagnosis.

    Reply
    • Michele oldfield says

      July 1, 2019 at 11:00 am

      My daughter is 28 and has a 2 year old
      The sooner the better.and sorry for the loss of your daughter this
      is so hard to watch

      Reply
    • Brenda Arnaud says

      July 8, 2019 at 7:59 am

      My daughters started having symptoms at age 38. She is going to be 40 on August 1 and in one year I can see how she’s gotten a little bit worse. It’s now on the other side of her body so it’s not PLS anymore! So sorry for your daughters lost so young. I hope this is the answer for many people!

      Reply
    • Muton Anderson says

      July 17, 2019 at 1:31 pm

      How do I teach this dr?

      Reply
      • Muton Anderson says

        July 17, 2019 at 1:31 pm

        Reach

        Reply
        • Myrtle Dumas says

          September 30, 2019 at 7:24 am

          Dr. Stanley Appel, is at Houston Methodist, Dept. Of Neurology. Houston, Texas.
          He is my husband’s doctor and is wonderful.

          Reply
          • taffy amburn says

            July 28, 2020 at 4:52 pm

            Him and his staff are wonderful

  6. Eric says

    June 29, 2019 at 2:43 am

    Publicly funded research will turn this into a huge money making scheme for some drug company. Probably crushing the healthcare they have even though this process isn’t that expensive and has been around for years.

    Reply
    • Luis Lay says

      July 2, 2019 at 8:56 am

      Not so. No drug company is involved with this treatment. Each patient is using their own T-Reg cells that have been removed, allowed to multiply in a strict laboratory environment and put back into that specific person.

      Reply
  7. Bette Dodd says

    June 29, 2019 at 7:09 am

    Please tell me how I can be part o this study whatever it takes. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

    Reply
  8. Tammy Markum says

    June 29, 2019 at 10:08 am

    So excited to hear this! My mother died from ALS in 2016. It’s a horrible disease. If it can be stopped in it’s tracks, that’s fantastic! I would love to hear more as updates are available.

    Reply
  9. David Saunders says

    June 29, 2019 at 11:33 am

    How well known is this potential breakthrough? I go to the University of Minnesota for my clinic visits and nothing has been mentioned.

    Reply
  10. B Morgan says

    June 29, 2019 at 11:54 am

    How would one see if they were a candidate for the Phase 2 trials? My husband has ALS which was diagnosed in March 2018. Onset was probably mid-2015 based on when fasiculations first started. He is primarily affected in his upper limbs and with dysphasia. He has done no treatments to date.

    Reply
  11. Harold House says

    June 29, 2019 at 1:36 pm

    Updates regularly please! We don’t have a lot of time.

    Reply
  12. Dwayne Hylton says

    June 29, 2019 at 3:17 pm

    can I get on it now?

    Reply
  13. William Burton says

    June 29, 2019 at 3:44 pm

    I have ALS live dfw area can I participate in the research

    Reply
  14. Dale maus says

    June 29, 2019 at 3:55 pm

    I was recently diagnosed with als. I would be interested in particpating in this study.

    Reply
    • Dale maus says

      June 29, 2019 at 3:59 pm

      I was recently diagnosed with als and would be interested in research.

      Reply
  15. Cynthia Hilton says

    June 29, 2019 at 4:05 pm

    I’ve just been diagnosed with this a year ago. I’ve recently started getting worse so I’d really like to be informed on any progress on treatments. I’m just not ready to die. I am 71 years old and would like to spend a little more quality time with my family.

    Reply
    • Brenda Arnaud says

      July 8, 2019 at 8:05 am

      God bless you! I really hope this is a cure to me this will help so many patients. There are so many patients with this I never realized how many patients there were until my daughter was diagnosed With PLS.

      Reply
  16. Melody Sylvestre says

    June 29, 2019 at 4:38 pm

    Enlarge your sample size from 3 to 225 and get published in a peer review journal.

    Reply
  17. Freda Lovell says

    June 29, 2019 at 4:52 pm

    Day late and a dollar short for my friend’s husband who passed last year. The VA did so little to keep this man alive he could have used this treatment and stayed alive for his family. They were still raising children. The wife is sick and alone now. So sad.

    Reply
  18. Charla Gilchriest says

    June 29, 2019 at 5:39 pm

    Very interested in learning more.

    Reply
  19. Robin Anderson says

    June 29, 2019 at 5:45 pm

    Omg! I pray this is true! I lost my husband to ALS, December 29, 2018. I miss him every day!

    Reply
  20. Dr Glass says

    June 29, 2019 at 6:25 pm

    Please forward the citation of the phase 1 RCT
    Thanks
    Dr Glass

    Reply
  21. Sheila says

    June 29, 2019 at 7:32 pm

    Amen! Thank you

    Reply
  22. Francois Allain says

    June 29, 2019 at 10:12 pm

    I have relatives who have been sick with this disease

    Reply
  23. Trawlaunnie Thomaz says

    June 29, 2019 at 11:43 pm

    My mom has ALS I’m wondering why u have to wait 4 weeks for a loaner manual wheelchair I need help I’m her caregiver

    Reply
    • Diana says

      July 23, 2019 at 10:08 pm

      We borrowed tons of equipment for my dad from our local lions club. We could just go and pick up what we needed as long as they had it. I’d suggest giving them a try.

      Reply
  24. Laura Warson says

    June 30, 2019 at 12:25 am

    This is great news. I hope they stop this horrid disease.

    Reply
  25. Richard M. Dailey says

    June 30, 2019 at 7:41 am

    Keep up the good work!

    Reply
  26. Anthony J Sonny says

    June 30, 2019 at 9:27 am

    What is the best time frame before this treatment becomes available for all ALS patients?

    Reply
  27. Avia Roach says

    June 30, 2019 at 11:35 am

    How does a person with ALS get to take part in the clinical trial?

    Reply
  28. Jill D Van Landingham says

    June 30, 2019 at 12:06 pm

    Suh-weet!

    Reply
  29. Angela Stanley says

    June 30, 2019 at 5:50 pm

    I have had ALS for a year and thought about stem cell treatment but this seems very promising!! I could be a part of your next trial!!

    Reply
  30. Elizabeth Dailey says

    June 30, 2019 at 6:32 pm

    My husband was recently diagnosed with ALS and is interested in being part of this research. Is Phase 2 enrolling or is he too late for the study. Please advise.
    Thank you,

    Reply
  31. Scott Mueller says

    June 30, 2019 at 9:10 pm

    I really hope that you’re successful with this therapy. I think ALS is the scariest thing out there. God bless you.

    Sincerely,

    Scott Mueller

    Reply
  32. Luci Dority says

    July 1, 2019 at 7:52 am

    This is great I just lost my sister to als. She was going to the Mayo Clinic . In the 90s my mother was in your clinic with als . I hope you can continue to make progress

    Reply
  33. Debbie McCravy says

    July 1, 2019 at 8:08 am

    Oh my gosh – I am over the moon excited about this since my dear husband has ALS!!!!!!!!!!!!! FINALLY, I see monies from the ALS Association making a difference at the patient level!!!!!!!!!!! NOW, everyone with ALS MUST have access to this treatment and FAST!!!!!! I will call my husband’s neurologists todays at his ALS Clinic and see if he can have this done!!!!!!!!!!!! God Bless you Dr. Appel !!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  34. Tina says

    July 1, 2019 at 12:51 pm

    Sounds promising! How can we learn more and is phase 2 open for enrollment? My husband has this horrible disease and was excited when I shared this information with him.

    Reply
  35. dhramsey@gmail.com says

    July 1, 2019 at 2:13 pm

    The @StanleyStampede would be interested in this trial for Angela

    Reply
  36. TR GRaham says

    July 1, 2019 at 3:39 pm

    Since this has already passed Phase 1 trials..
    And it’s a treatment already in fairly common use…
    It looks like it may be an option for folks in “Right to try” states.

    Has anyone explored this?

    What an amazing discovery if it pans out!

    It

    Reply
  37. John Blair says

    July 2, 2019 at 9:49 am

    Please inform how to stay on top of this trial/test. I’m in TX, diagnosed 2 months ago. Thanks

    jblair@korjil.com

    Reply
  38. Sandra Preuit (mom of ALS patient-Craig Preuit, SSN, Ret.) says

    July 7, 2019 at 1:01 pm

    My son Craig Preuit begins with Dr. Stanley Arpel this July, and he is what our whole family prays will give him some number of quality days to be with us!!!😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇

    Reply
  39. Jean Neumeyer says

    July 7, 2019 at 2:07 pm

    Spoke with Dr. Apple years ago when my mother had ALS. Great news….prayers continue

    Reply
  40. Delisle iviane says

    July 12, 2019 at 3:14 pm

    A quel endroit votre clinique? Est-ce possible d’un rendez-vous? Est-ce possible de recevoir ce traitement?

    Where is your clinic?
    Is it possible to have an appointment?
    Is it possible to receive this treatment?

    Reply
  41. Lei Ann says

    July 23, 2019 at 9:07 pm

    My husband is 42 with three very young kids. Tell me how to participate in Ohio.

    Reply
  42. Susan Smith says

    July 26, 2019 at 7:38 pm

    Why can’t we all utilize the Right to Try Act that was just initiated? This is crazy. If we are using our own cells, what is to stop us? He’s got 40+ people right here for a phase II.

    Reply
  43. Doreen Scott says

    July 27, 2019 at 5:09 pm

    I am PLS….Just please take me. I’m all in

    Reply
  44. Zamzam Elmarsafi says

    July 28, 2019 at 5:45 pm

    I have bulbar ALS since 7 months and hope I can be a participant in this trial . My mails are included.

    Reply
  45. steven hutchins says

    August 11, 2019 at 5:08 pm

    I have had ALS for 2 years and I am interested in participating in a clinical trial asap. please advise me on the timing and location of the current or next trial. Thank you.

    Reply
  46. Gwen Baker says

    August 21, 2019 at 1:16 pm

    I was diagnosed on July 30,2019. I would like very much to be considered for this treatment. I am 71.

    Reply

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