Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Show Promise in Breast Reconstruction

Adipose derived stem and progenitor cells (ADRCs) recovered from fat tissue are being used in reconstructive breast surgery, helping to restore lost breast volume and contour.

Researchers from Kyushu Central Hospital (Fukuoka, Japan) conducted an independent, investigator-sponsored study evaluation of a total of 21 women aged from 29 to 59 (mean 46.9) years who underwent 25 stem cell augmented reconstructions at the department of breast surgery. All patients had no metastases or recurrence at least one year after tissue loss resulting from partial mastectomy. Under general anesthesia, adipose tissue (approximately twice the estimated volume to be used for reconstruction) was harvested by lipoaspiration using standard tumescent technique. Half of the fat was reserved to extract, wash, and concentrate the ADRCs; the other half was used as the primary filler material. This tissue, which was fragmented into numerous 2 to 5 mm fragments by the lipoaspiration procedure, was then enriched with concentrated ADRCs, made available at the time of surgery via an investigational device, the Celution System, under development by Cytori Therapeutics (San Diego, CA, USA). Tissue thickness measurement (TTM) was performed using an ultrasound machine at 3 and 6 months post-procedure.

Study results showed a statistically significant improvement in average breast tissue thickness at one month following treatment compared to baseline, with no significant loss of tissue thickness between one month and the final assessment. The procedure was reported safe and well tolerated in all women; no rejection or immune response was observed; patient satisfaction of the outcome was reported at 79%, with a mean follow up period of 7.7 months. The study results were presented at the 30th San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, held during December 2007 in Texas (USA).

"Reconstructive options have not kept pace with the development of new cancer therapies and existing reconstructive options for women are either ineffective, impractical or both,” said Marc H. Hedrick, M.D., president of Cytori Therapeutics. "Until now, partial mastectomy patients have had little hope other than to live with tissue loss. This procedure holds the potential to offer women the opportunity to restore the contour, volume and function lost during cancer treatment.”

More than one million women worldwide are diagnosed with breast cancer annually, including more than 370,000 women in Europe and more than 210,000 in the United States. Due to continual advancements in cancer detection, a growing percentage of women are eligible for partial mastectomies. Unfortunately, partial mastectomy often results in significant skin damage, tissue loss, pain, and reduction or loss of motion. Women who undergo such procedures have limited reconstructive options to potentially reduce associated pain, reverse loss of motion, and restore breast volume and contour.


Related Links:
Kyushu Central Hospital
Cytori Therapeutics