What of the use of human stem cells for breast reconstruction after mastectomy? "In most situations where people want to regenerate a breast, they are really concerned about the cosmetic function of the breast, not the milk-producing function", comments researcher Connie Eaves, Terry Fox Laboratory, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. "What we have done is isolate the stem cell of the mammary gland, which is actually a minor component of the entire breast." The researchers agree that the idea that the mammary cells will be useful for reconstructive surgery is remote.
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