Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Italian researchers use adult stem cells to create windpipe for cancer patients

In Italy, two individuals with trachea cancer have undergone windpipe transplants. Their new windpipes were created with adult stem cells from their own bodies.
Doctors regenerated tissue from the patients' nose and bone marrow stem cells to create tracheas biologically identical to the patients' original organs. Both patients underwent the transplant in early July and were released from the hospital just weeks after the surgery, according to the Associated Press.

One of the patients was able to speak again only a few days after the surgery, said Dr. Paolo Macchiarini, professor of surgery at the University of Barcelona in Spain and the head surgeon in the cases.

"They are back to the home, able to speak, able to socialize with everybody," Giovannini told the Associated Press.

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