Allogeneic ABCB5+ mesenchymal stem cells for treatment-refractory chronic venous ulcers: a phase I/IIa clinical trial.

A significant number of chronic venous ulcers (CVUs) fail to heal despite of guideline-conform standard of care. Skin-derived ABCB5+ mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can dampen the sustained IL-1ß-driven inflammation present in chronic wounds. Based on their wound healing-facilitating effects in a mouse CVU model and an autologous first-in-human study, ABCB5+ MSCs have emerged as a potential candidate for cell-based advanced therapy of non-healing CVUs. In the present interventional, multicenter, single-arm, phase I/IIa clinical trial, subjects whose CVU had emerged as standard therapy-resistant received one or two topical applications of 1×106 allogeneic ABCB5+ MSCs/cm2 wound area in addition to standard treatment. Out of 83 treatment-emergent adverse events, only three were judged related to the cell product; they were mild or moderate and recovered without sequelae. Wound size markedly decreased from baseline to week 12, resulting in a median wound size reduction of 76% (full analysis set, N=31), 78% (per-protocol set, N=27) and 87% (subset of responders; n=21). In conclusion, the study treatment was well tolerated and safe. The treatment elicited a profound wound size reduction within 12 weeks, identifying ABCB5+ MSCs as a potential candidate for adjunctive therapy of otherwise incurable CVUs. These results justify the conduct of a larger, randomized, controlled trial to confirm clinical efficacy.

Sclerotherapy of varicose veins in dermatology.

Venous disorders rank among the most frequent diseases in the German population. Early diagnostic investigation and treatment can prevent their progression and may reduce the risk for secondary diseases. The therapeutic spectrum for varicose veins includes conservative as well as interventional and surgical methods. Because it is minimally invasive and well-tolerated, sclerotherapy represents an important treatment method for venous insufficiency, recurrent varicosis and venous malformations. We review the role of sclerotherapy as a treatment option of chronic venous insufficiency in dermatology.

VEGF-C, VEGF-D and Flt-4 in transitional bladder cancer: relationships to clinicopathological parameters and long-term survival.

BACKGROUND: Our aim was to determine the role of the lymphangiogenic markers VEGF-C, VEGF-D and Flt-4 in transitional bladder cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Archival cystectomy tumor blocks of 286 patients were selected for construction of a tissue microarray (TMA). Paraffin sections were assessed immunohistochemically using polyclonal antibodies against VEGF-C, VEGF-D and Flt-4. Staining results were evaluated semiquantitatively and analyzed for their association with various clinicopathological factors. RESULTS: There was no association of VEGF-C with histopathological parameters or clinical outcome. Patients with VEGF-D overexpression had higher pathological tumor stages (p =0.021) and regional lymph node metastasis (p=0.008). Furthermore, they had a significantly reduced disease-free survival (p=0.042). Overexpression of Flt-4 was particularly present in the subgroup of G3 and G4 tumors (p=0.001) and was associated with a shorter disease-free survival (p=0.041). In multivariate analysis, only tumor stage and lymph node metastasis were independent prognostic parameters. CONCLUSION: Targeting VEGF-D and Flt-4 could be a useful tool to predict and control progression of bladder cancer.