Regenerative medicine is an emerging and rapidly evolving field of research and therapy, thanks to new discoveries on stem cells. Adipose tissue is a connective tissue which contains a reserve of mesenchymal stem cells. Clinical improvements in trophic characteristics of teguments after autologous fat graft are well described in literature. In this paper, we present our observation after 6 years of autologous fat graft experience in scar remodeling. All patients recruited had retractile and painful scars compromising the normal daily activity/mobility of the joint involved. We performed surgical procedure with Coleman technique. In 20 patients, we performed a clinical assessment using Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) and Durometer measurements. In all treated scars, a qualitative improvement was shown both from an aesthetic and functional point of view. Most importantly, reduction or complete resolution of pain and increases in scar elasticity were objectively assessable in all cases. In patients studied using Durometer and POSAS score, areas treated with autologous fat graft showed statistically significant reduction in hardness measurements in comparison with areas infiltrated with saline solution. POSAS scores showed a statistically significant reduction of a great deal of POSAS parameters as a result of an improvement of both clinical evaluation and patient perception. Injection of processed autologous fat seems to be a promising and effective therapeutic approach for scars with different origin such as burns and other trauma scars, and post-surgery and radiotherapy outcomes. In general, we can affirm that treated areas regain characteristics similar to normal skin, which are clinically objectivable, leading not only to aesthetic but also functional results.

Mastectomy with axillary dissection is still one of the most common procedures in oncologic surgery. Unfortunately, a condition of neuropathic pain, termed postmastectomy pain syndrome, can appear after mastectomy. Although evidence regarding the epidemiology of postmastectomy pain syndrome is well researched, an effective therapy is still unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical effectiveness of lipoaspirate graft in the treatment of postmastectomy pain syndrome. From February of 2006 to August of 2008, a total of 113 patients affected by postmastectomy pain syndrome and severe scar retractions were enrolled for this clinical study. Seventy-two patients were treated with autologous fat grafted in painful scars, and 41 patients did not undergo any further surgical procedure. Pain assessment was performed using a visual analogue scale before and after treatment, with a mean follow-up of 13 months. In addition, antalgic drug intake was recorded in the 34 patients who received a surgical treatment. Results were analyzed using the Wilcoxon rank sum test. A significant decrease in pain according to the visual analogue scale was detected in patients treated with autologous fat graft (3.23-point reduction, p = 0.0005). Twenty-eight of 34 patients stopped their analgesic therapy with a significant follow-up (13 months). Autologous fat grafting is a safe, relatively noninvasive, and rapid surgical procedure. The authors' results suggest its effectiveness for treatment of postmastectomy pain syndrome. Therapeutic, II.

Significance: Targeted irradiation is an effective cancer therapy but damage inflicted to normal tissues surrounding the tumor may cause severe complications. While certain pharmacologic strategies can temper the adverse effects of irradiation, stem cell therapies provide unique opportunities for restoring functionality to the irradiated tissue bed. Recent Advances: Preclinical studies presented in this review provide encouraging proof of concept regarding the therapeutic potential of stem cells for treating the adverse side effects associated with radiotherapy in different organs. Early-stage clinical data for radiation-induced lung, bone, and skin complications are promising and highlight the importance of selecting the appropriate stem cell type to stimulate tissue regeneration. Critical Issues: While therapeutic efficacy has been demonstrated in a variety of animal models and human trials, a range of additional concerns regarding stem cell transplantation for ameliorating radiation-induced normal tissue sequelae remain. Safety issues regarding teratoma formation, disease progression, and genomic stability along with technical issues impacting disease targeting, immunorejection, and clinical scale-up are factors bearing on the eventual translation of stem cell therapies into routine clinical practice. Future Directions: Follow-up studies will need to identify the best possible stem cell types for the treatment of early and late radiation-induced normal tissue injury. Additional work should seek to optimize cellular dosing regimes, identify the best routes of administration, elucidate optimal transplantation windows for introducing cells into more receptive host tissues, and improve immune tolerance for longer-term engrafted cell survival into the irradiated microenvironment. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 21: 338–355.

Autologous fat tissue grafting (AFTG) has been successfully used in the treatment of different sclerotic conditions, including localized scleroderma. Patients with advanced systemic sclerosis (SSc)-related perioral thickening and mouth opening limitation are candidates for this therapeutic approach. AFTG of the lips was performed to improve mouth opening in patients with SSc. We enrolled in the study 20 female patients with diffuse SSc (median age 35 ± 15 years and 11 ± 10 years of disease duration). Two-milliliter fractions of autologous fat drawn from trochanteric or periumbilical areas were injected in eight different sites around the mouth. Baseline and after-treatment mouth opening changes were assessed by measuring interincisal distance and oral perimeter, while skin hardness was tested by digital durometer. Pre- and posttreatment modifications of microvascular architecture were assessed by counting capillaries in the inferior lip videocapillaroscopy (VC) images and by scoring the microvascular density (MVD) in anti-CD34/CD31 immunohistochemical (IH) stained perioral skin biopsy sections. Similarly, histological sections were examined to evaluate dermoepidermic junction (DEJ) modifications. Three months after treatment, both the interincisal distance and oral perimeter significantly increased ( p < 0.001). At the same time, a significant skin neovascularization became evident, both considering the VC images ( p< 0.001) and MVD scores in IH sections ( p< 0.0001). Finally, some skin histological aspects also improved, as shown by the significant changes in DEJ flattening scores ( p < 0.0001). The present study suggests that, in patients with SSc, AFTG can improve mouth opening and function, induce a neovascularization, and partially restore the skin structure.

Introduction. Pain syndromes affect women after conservative and radical breast oncological procedures. Radiation therapy influences their development. We report autologous fat grafting therapeutical role in treating chronic pain in irradiated patients. Materials and Methods. From February 2006 to November 2014, we collect a total of 209 patients who meet the definition of “Postmastectomy Pain Syndrome” (PMPS) and had undergone mastectomy with axillary dissection (113 patients) or quadrantectomy (96 patients). Both procedures were followed by radiotherapy. We performed fat grafting following Coleman’s procedure. Mean amount of adipose tissue injected was 52 cc (±8.9 cc) per breast. Seventy‐eight in 209 patients were not treated surgically and were considered as control group. Data were gathered through preoperative and postoperative VAS questionnaires; analgesic drug intake was recorded. Results. The follow‐up was at 12 months (range 11.7–13.5 months). In 120 treated patients we detected pain decrease (mean ± SD point reduction, 3.19 ± 2.86). Forty‐eight in 59 patients stopped their analgesic drug therapy. Controls reported a mean ± SD decrease of pain of 1.14 ± 2.72. Results showed that pain decreased significantly in patients treated (p < 0.005, Wilcoxon rank-sum test). Conclusion. Our 8‐year experience confirms fat grafting effectiveness in decreasing neuropathic pain.