Efficacy and safety of autologous stem cell transplantation for decompensated liver cirrhosis: A retrospective cohort study

Abstract

AIMTo evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of autologous stem cell transplantation (SCT) for decompensated liver cirrhosis.METHODSConsecutive patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis were included and assigned into the SCT group and non-transplantation (non-SCT) group according to whether they received SCT treatment. Patients were followed up for ten years. The long-term survival rate and incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were compared between groups.RESULTSA total of 159 patients were enrolled, including 27 cases in the SCT group and 132 cases in the non-SCT group. The baseline characteristics were significantly different between the two groups. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to match SCT and non-SCT patients. After PSM, 92 subjects were enrolled in the final analysis, including 23 cases in the SCT group and 69 cases in the non-SCT group. The overall mortality was 73.9% and 55.1%, and the median survival period was 48 and 64 mo, respectively. However, no significant difference was found in the long-term survival rate between the two groups (P > 0.05). In addition, the incidence of HCC was higher in the SCT group than in the non-SCT group (47.8% vs 21.7%, P < 0.05). After adjusting for other covariates, SCT (OR = 3.065, 95%CI: 1.378-6.814) and age (OR = 1.061, 95%CI: 1.021-1.102) were independently correlated with the development of HCC in this decompensated liver cirrhosis cohort.CONCLUSIONAutologous SCT may fail to improve the long-term efficacy and increase the incidence of HCC for decompensated liver cirrhosis. Close monitoring of HCC is strongly recommended in patients undergoing autologous SCT.

Transplantation of Human Urine-Derived Stem Cells Ameliorates Erectile Function and Cavernosal Endothelial Function by Promoting Autophagy of Corpus Cavernosal Endothelial Cells in Diabetic Erectile Dysfunction Rats

“…Therefore, systemic administration of autophagy-regulated agents is inappropriate. In recent years, stem cell therapy emerges as a promising strategy in treating chronic diseases [48, 49]. Stem cells can help repair damaged tissues or structures towards the normal state, and numerous studies have demonstrated that stem cells take effect via restoring autophagy homeostasis [50, 51].…”

Long-term Outcome of Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Infusion in Cirrhosis: Waning Effect over Time

“…There was also a higher incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in stem cell patients (47.8% vs. 21.7%, p < 0.05). 21 Though theoretically, there is a possibility of uncontrolled malignant proliferation of an aged stem cell niche, 22 the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in a 10-year period could develop as a part of the natural history. This needs further investigation, though a close watch on the development of hepatocellular carcinoma is always required following any cell-based therapy.…”

Recellularization of Native Tissue Derived Acellular Scaffolds with Mesenchymal Stem Cells

“…Moreover, it has been reported that pigs transplanted with stem cells into the infarcted myocardium, experienced more frequent monomorphic ventricular tachycardia, compared to the vehicle-treated group [ 2 ]. It has also been reported that cell transplantation may fail to improve the long-term efficacy and increase the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma for decompensated liver cirrhosis [ 3 ]. Acellular scaffolds offer a relatively safe and potentially off-the-shelf solution to cell-based therapies.…”