1. Update April 2021 Francine Blei, MD
2. Asaad, M. and S. E. Hanson (2021). ``Tissue Engineering Strategies for Cancer-Related Lymphedema.'' Tissue Eng Part A. EPubDate 2021/02/11 Tissue engineering has witnessed remarkable advancement in various fields of medicine and has the potential of revolutionizing the management of Iymphedema. Combining approaches of biotechnology with the evolving understanding of Iymphangiogenesis may offer promising treatment modalities for patients suffering from Iymphedema. The strategies to Iymphatic vessels tissue engineer can be grouped into four main categories: Delivery of chemokines, cytokines and other growth factors to induce Iymphangiogenesis; cellular based-approach using LECs or stem-cells; scaffold-based tissue engineering; or a combination of these. This review will summarize the current approach to cancer-related Iymphedema and advances in Iymphatic tissue engineering strategies as well as the challenges facing the regeneration of Iymphatic vasculature, particularly in an oncologic setting.
3. Therapeutic Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Postmastectomy Lymphedema: A Literature Review
4. Jorgensen, M. G., et al. (2021). ``Adipose-derived regenerative cells and lipotransfer in alleviating breast cancer-related lymphedema: An open-label phase I trial with 4 years of follow-up.'' Stem Cells Transl Med. EPubDate 2021/02/18 Patients with breast cancer-related Iymphedema (BCRL) have reduced quality of life and arm function. Current treatments are palliative, and treatments improving Iymphedema are lacking. Preclinical studies have suggested that adipose-derived regenerative cells (ADRCs) can alleviate Iymphedema. We, therefore, aimed to assess whether ADRCs can alleviate Iymphedema in clinical reality with long-term follow-up. We treated 10 patients with BCRL using ADRCs and a scar-releasing lipotransfer to the axillary region, and all patients were followed 1, 3, 6, 12, and 48 months after treatment. The primary endpoint was change in arm volume. Secondary endpoints were safety, change in lymphedema symptoms, quality of life, Iymphedemaassociated cellulitis, and conservative treatment use. There was no significant decrease in BCRL volume after treatment. However, self-reported upper extremity disability and arm heaviness and tension improved. Six patients reduced their use of conservative BCRL treatment. Five patients felt that their BCRL had improved substantially, and four of these would redo the treatment. We did not observe any cases of locoregional breast cancer recurrence. In this phase I study with 4 years of follow-up, axillary delivered ADRCs and lipotransfer were safe and feasible and improved BCRL symptoms and upper extremity function. Randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the results of this study.
5. Postmastectomy Lymphedema: A Literature Review Clin Transl Sci 14(1): 54-61. This is an open access article under the terms of the