Professor Martin Birchall, professor of surgery at the University of Bristol who helped grow the cells for the transplant, said: "This will represent a huge step change in surgery. "Surgeons can now start to see and understand the potential for adult stem cells and tissue engineering to radically improve their ability to treat patients with serious diseases." He said that in 20 years time, virtually any transplant organ could be made in this way. US scientists have already successfully implanted bladder patches grown in the laboratory from patients' own cells into people with bladder disease. The European research team, which also includes experts from the University of Padua and the Polytechnic of Milan in Italy, is applying for funding to do windpipe and voice box transplants in cancer patients. Clinical trials could begin five years from now, they said.
"Surgeons can now start to see and understand the potential for adult stem cells and tissue engineering to radically improve their ability to treat patients with serious diseases."
He said that in 20 years time, virtually any transplant organ could be made in this way.
US scientists have already successfully implanted bladder patches grown in the laboratory from patients' own cells into people with bladder disease.
The European research team, which also includes experts from the University of Padua and the Polytechnic of Milan in Italy, is applying for funding to do windpipe and voice box transplants in cancer patients.
Clinical trials could begin five years from now, they said.
