Basic and patient-oriented research in organ transplantation.

The first joint congress of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) and the American Society of Transplantation (AST)--TRANSPLANT 2000--, was held May 13-17, 2000, in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. Results were presented on the latest clinical advances in organ transplantation, as well as aspects of basic research, where genetics studies and gene therapy approaches are gaining in importance. In the clinic, immunosuppressants continue to play a key role in transplantation, and the appearance of new drugs (e.g., mycophenolate mofetil, sirolimus) in recent years has led to increased possibilities of combination regimens, some including as many as four drugs. First clinical studies with three new immunosuppressants--FTY-720, leflunomide and rituximab) were also presented. The stellar presentation at TRANSPLANT 2000 was of a trial of pancreatic islet transplantation in type-1 diabetic patients which led to sustained insulin independence.