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Table 1 Cell‐therapy for secondary lymphedema: clinical studies

From: Cell therapy as a treatment of secondary lymphedema: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Year

References

Study type

Edema location

Cell type/dose

Follow-up/assessment

Results

Conclusions

2008

Hou et al. [29]

Prospective controlled study

Upper limb

Freshly isolated bone marrow stromal cells

N/A

12 months/Circumference measurements, volume of edema, pain in arm

BM-MSCs reduce the volume and % volume of lymphedema, and reduce the amount of pain caused by edema

Autologous BM-MSCs transplantation for the treatment of breast cancer-related arm lymphedema is effective and feasible

2011

Maldonado et al. [30]

Prospective controlled study

Upper limb

Freshly isolated bone marrow stromal cells

(7 – 56 × 107)

3 months/Circumference measurements, chronic pain, arm mobility and sensory loss

BM-MSCs reduce the volume of lymphedema. Chronic pain and sensitivity are markedly improved

The use of localized injections of BM-MSCs appears to be helpful in the management of lymphedema secondary to radical mastectomy

2016

Toyserkani et al. [31]

Nonrandomized clinical trial

Upper limb

Freshly isolated autologous adipose-derived stromal cells

(4.07 × 107)

4 months/Circumference measurements, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans, adverse events

ADSCs do not reduce the volume of lymphedema. Patients reported a decrease in symptoms over time. Five patients reduced their use of conservative treatment

ADSC-assisted lipotransfer is safe during the 4-month follow-up period and can alleviate symptoms of breast cancer-related lymphedema, minimizing the need for conservative treatment

2017

Toyserkani et al. [32]

Nonrandomized clinical trial

Upper limb

Freshly isolated autologous adipose-derived stromal cells

(5.37 × 107)

6 months/Circumference measurements, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans, patient-reported outcome and safety questionnaire assessment

ADSCs do not reduce the volume of lymphedema. Patients reported a decrease insymptoms over time. Five patients reduced their use of conservative treatment

ADSC-assisted lipotransfer is safe during the 6-month follow-up period and can alleviate symptoms of breast cancer-related lymphedema, minimizing the need for conservative treatment

2018

Ismail et al. [33]

Randomized controlled trial

Lower limb

Freshly isolated bone marrow stromal cells

N/A

6 months/Circumferential measurements, heaviness and pain improvement, Immunohistochemical staining (lymphangiogenesis), recurrence of lymphedema

BM-MSCs reduce edema circumference as well as pain relief and improvement in walking ability. Increase in the number of lymphatic capillaries

BM-MSCs treatment can achieve improvement of symptoms in patients with chronic lymphedema

2019

Toyserkani et al. [34]

Nonrandomized clinical trial

Upper limb

Freshly isolated autologous adipose-derived stromal cells

(5.41 × 107)

12 months/Circumference measurements, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans, Patient-reported outcome and safety questionnaire assessment, lymphoscintigraphy changes

ADSCs do not reduce the volume of lymphedema. Patients reported a decrease in symptoms over time. Five patients reduced their use of conservative treatment

ADSC-assisted lipotransfer is safe during the 12-month follow-up period and can alleviate symptoms of breast cancer-related lymphedema, minimizing the need for conservative treatment