Evaluation of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells and Metformin Combination Therapy for Radiation Fibrosis
Abstract
Topic Area: Tissue Regeneration. Radiation-induced fibrosis can result from either cancer treatment-related radiation therapy or accidental exposure or a radiation terrorist fission bomb event. Depending on the tissue area affected by radiations, the consequences can vary from tissue function loss, pain, discomfort, or death. There are very few treatment options available with low efficacy, and usually the treatments are symptom-related. The patients have to suffer because of the long duration of painful conditions and treatments. Our lab has successfully studied the use of fat stem cells as a treatment option for radiation fibrosis. We are using fat graft to treat radiation fibrosis with great success. Adipose stem cells play a key role in regenerative process by calling in help from bone marrow. Metformin is an anti-diabetes drug that has shown a lot of benefits for other conditions like aging, heart function, etc. Recent studies in mice and rats have shown that metformin can also be used for treatment of radiation fibrosis. Metformin blocks the key proteins that are responsible for persistence and progression of the disease. Our proposal is to test both adipose-derived stem cells and metformin together based on the idea that metformin will block the progression of disease and adipose stem cells will perform the reconstruction of the damage tissue, and the result will be a sustained resolution of fibrosis. The rationale behind using a combination of two different agents for treatment is that both these agents will complement the effects of each other. We have developed a unique mouse model to test this therapy. The outcome measures of our mouse model are directly applied to clinical settings of fibrosis. Both these agents are approved for clinical use, so the results of this project will be very helpful for translating this combined therapy into clinics.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 10, 2021
- Source ID
- W81XWH2010327
Entities
People
- Asim Ejaz
Organizations
- United States Army
- University of Pittsburgh