Autologous CD133+ cells augment the effect of portal embolization.

AIM: The standard to treat liver tumors is a resection. When the future liver remnant (FLRV) is below 30% (healthy livers) or 40% (cirrhotic livers or previous chemotherapy), surgery carries the risk of severe complications. Portal vein embolization (PVE) gained a worldwide diffusion as a tool to augment the FLRV. Cell therapies are recent players at the frontiers of medicine. This study presents a clinical experience to evaluate the synergistic effect of combined PVE and autologous CD133+ cells coadministration. METHODS: Sixteen patients have been enrolled in the study up today. Inclusion criteria were: primary or metastatic liver malignancy with a FLRV<30% or 40%. A baseline volumetric CT-scan was obtained. CD34+ were mobilized to the blood stream by G-CSF administration and collected by immunomagnetic separation. Simultaneously with PVE, cells were administered to the non occluded liver segments. Follow-up CT scans were taken at 30th post treatment day. RESULTS: The patients (N.=6) showed an increased volume gain (Mann-Whitney test P<0.001, two sided) compared to a set of cases whose treatment was PVE only (N.=10). DISCUSSION: The use of autologous stem cells as an augmenter of liver regeneration has a clinical potential to improve the resectability of liver tumors.