Author/Authors :
Mohamadnejad, Mehdi Digestive Disease Research Center - Shariati Hospital - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Ashrafi, Mandana Digestive Disease Research Center - Shariati Hospital - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Alimoghaddam, Kamran Hematology - Oncology - BMT Research Center - Shariati Hospital - Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Vosough, Masoud Department of Regenerative Medicine - Cell Science Research Center - Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology - ACECR, Tehran - Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology - Cell Science Research Center - Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology - ACECR, Tehran , Mardpour, Soura Department of Regenerative Medicine - Cell Science Research Center - Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology - ACECR, Tehran , Azimian, Vajiheh Department of Regenerative Medicine - Cell Science Research Center - Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology - ACECR, Tehran , Aghdami, Nasser Department of Regenerative Medicine - Cell Science Research Center - Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology - ACECR, Tehran , Bagheri, Mohammad Digestive Disease Research Center - Shariati Hospital - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Abdollahzadeh, Leila Digestive Disease Research Center - Shariati Hospital - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Bashtar, Maryam Hematology - Oncology - BMT Research Center - Shariati Hospital - Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Akhlaghpoor, Shahram Noor Medical Imaging Center, Tehran , Ghavamzadeh, Ardeshir Hematology - Oncology - BMT Research Center - Shariati Hospital - Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Baharvand, Hossein Department of Regenerative Medicine - Cell Science Research Center - Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology - ACECR, Tehran - Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology - Cell Science Research Center - Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology - ACECR, Tehran , Malekzadeh, Reza Digestive Disease Research Center - Shariati Hospital - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran
Abstract :
BACKGROUND During the resent years there has been interest in using bone marrow stem cells to treat liver cirrhosis. However, there is a potential concern for malignant transformation after stem cell therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after autologous bone marrow stem cell transplantation for liver cirrhosis. METHODS All the patients who underwent autologous stem cell transplantation for liver cirrhosis between 2005 and 2011 at our center were enrolled. Cellular infusion was made through peripheral vein, portal vein, or hepatic artery.The patients were invited to undergo screening for hepatocellular carcinoma. The screening was made with ultrasonography and alpha-feto protein (AFP) measurement. RESULTS Thirty two patients (18 males) were included in the study. Mean age of patients was 45.7 years. Fifteen patients (47%) received mesenchymal stem cell (MSC), 9 (28%) received bone marrow mononuclear cells, 5 (16%) were given CD 133-positive bone marrow cells, and 3 (9%) patients received CD 34-positive bone marrow cells. Mean duration of follow up was 20.5months. Mean serum level of AFP was 2.8 ng/ml at baseline and 3.4ng/ml at the end of follow up (p= 0.3). One patient was found to have hepatocellular carcinoma three months after infusion of bone marrow mononuclear cells. The incidence rate for HCC was 1.8 cases per 100 person-years in this study. CONCLUSION Autologous bone marrow stem cell infusion does not appear to increase the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. The incidence rate of HCC in this study is comparable or even less than the reported rates of HCC in cohort studies of cirrhotic patients.
