Umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells transplantation decreases incidence of liver cancer in end-stage liver disease patients: a retrospective analysis over 5 years.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate effects of umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) transplantation on the risks of liver cancers in end-stage liver disease (ESLD) patients. METHODS: Data of 45 ESLD patients received UC-MSCs transplantation (UC-MSCs group) and 50 ESLD patients received non-UC-MSCs transplantation (non-UC-MSCs group) were retrospectively analyzed, and they were followed up for 5 years. RESULTS: The incidence of liver cancer was much lower in UC-MSCs group than that in the non-UC-MSCs group (12% vs 2.2%, P=0.008). The survival rate of patients was significantly higher in the UC-MSCs group than that in the non-UC-MSCs group during the five years follow-up (P=0.043). The inflammation and fibrosis scores were lower in the UC-MSCs group than those in the non-UC-MSCs group (P<0.036). Compared with the non-UC-MSCs group, the UC-MSCs group showed largely improved liver cirrhosis degree and lower Child-Pugh scores (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: UC-MSCs transplantation is able to decrease the risks of liver cancers in ESLD patients, which might work by inhibiting inflammation.