Adipose-derived stem cell transplantation for therapeutic lymphangiogenesis in a mouse secondary lymphedema model.

Aim: Secondary lymphedema is observed in common after postmalignancy treatment of the breast and the gynecologic organs but effective therapies are not established. Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs), which are pluripotent, regenerative in local injection, are tested for murine hindlimb secondary lymphedema by regenerative method.

Methods & Results: Mice were divided into four groups: no ADSCs, 1 × 10(6) ADSCs, 1 × 10(5) ADSCs and 1 × 10(4) ADSCs (each group, n = 20) in a stringent surgical resection and irradiation.

Breast Reconstruction After Radiotherapy.

It was once common practice in the treatment of breast cancer for total mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection to be conventionally performed. However, breast-conserving surgery is increasingly being performed with marked improvement in a multidisciplinary treatment approach, including surgery, chemotherapy, irradiation, and antihormonal therapy. We must choose the optimal reconstructive methods with the reduction of the excision range.

One-stage, simultaneous skin grafting with artificial dermis and basic fibroblast growth factor successfully improves elasticity with maturation of scar formation.

The efficacy of one-stage artificial dermis and skin grafting was tested in a nude rat model. Reconstruction with artificial dermis is usually a two-stage procedure with 2- to 3-week intermission. If one-stage use of artificial dermis and split-thickness skin grafting are effective, the overall burden on patients and the medical cost will markedly decrease.

The usefulness of basic fibroblast growth factor for radiation-exposed tissue.

A high dose of ionizing external radiation damage to the skin and soft tissue results in changes in function as well as in the general body condition. Once radiation surpasses the tissue safety or survival level, progressive alteration in the damaged tissue results in tissue loss and then flap loss. Local expression and action of stem cells or local growth factors in the irradiated tissue is mitigated, and external administration is sought to investigate the possibility of skin and soft tissue survival after an elevating flap.