In an innovative method, doctors have successfully transplanted windpipes into a 19 year old British woman and 31 year old Czech who were suffering from cancer. The stem cells were utilized for creating an organ biologically similar to the original organ by allowing a donated trachea to regenerate tissue.

Advances have been made in previous attempts too that focused on windpipe transplants with surgeons attempting to reconstruct a physically damaged one. Trachea cancer apart from being rare is difficult to be handled as it has a tendency to resist radiation and chemotherapy. Attempts at replacing the windpipe with mechanical devices too didn’t work. The new procedure is unique as it uses stem cells combining biotechnology with surgery.

Alessandro Nanni Costa, director of National Transplant Center in Italy, feels that new procedure is extraordinary due to the combination of surgery and biotechnology. Point to be noted is that this comes as an external review since Dr Costa wasn’t a part of the research team.

The identities of the Czech and British women have not been disclosed concerning privacy reasons though it has been said that the Czech woman has a 6-month old baby.

In this technique, all the cells were stripped from the donor windpipe converting it into a sort of tube without any organic material. The stem cells were injected into the donor trachea just before the transplant.

According to the director of AOU Careggi hospital, the place where the transplantation was done, duration of 2-3 months is required for the stem cells to grow back and cover the trachea giving out a new organ. During this period, the windpipe functions even in the absence of cells by acting as a mechanical device before the organ is formed. Since there’s no foreign organic substance, the new trachea needs no anti-rejection drugs.

Source:

Fox News