Stem cell technique speeds liver regeneration
Scientists are encouraged by their findings so far
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Tuesday, 27, Mar 2007 12:19
Stem cell techniques could help patients with damaged livers have the chance to regenerate healthy tissue thanks to new research.
Using adult bone marrow stem cells, scientists publishing in the latest issue of Radiology say they have been able to regenerate human liver tissue.
The German team, from Heinrich-Heine University in Dusseldorf, said the findings could be crucial for helping patients have an improved chance of recovery.
If by using the stem cells they can enable patients to grow more healthy cells in their liver it could facilitate surgery to remove any cancerous growth that previously would have been impossible.
"Our study suggests that liver stem cells harvested from the patient's own bone marrow can further augment and accelerate the liver's natural capacity to regenerate itself," explained radiology professor, Gunther Fürst.
If the new technique is used in combination with the existing treatment - portal vein embolization (PVE) – the results are said to be significantly improved.
PVE works by diverting blood to the healthy tissue in the liver, stimulating quicker growth.
Scientists believe that if this process is augmented by stem cell techniques it could mean a patient suffering from a rapidly spreading cancer has enough healthy liver tissue to be able to survive surgery to remove the cancer.
The initial study included 13 patients with large central liver malignancies who would not have been able to undergo treatment.
Seven had traditional treatment using PVE while six had the combined treatment – with the latter having double the amount of healthy liver tissue.
The researchers are now undertaking further studies in a bid to bring the therapy to the market.