Cell therapy trial shows 70% survival without liver transplant

A new cell therapy developed by researchers at the University of Edinburgh has shown promise as a potential alternative to liver transplants for patients with advanced liver disease, with a clinical trial finding that 70 percent of treated patients survived without needing a transplant after four years.

The treatment, tested in the MATCH clinical trial involving 50 patients with advanced cirrhosis, involves reprogramming immune cells taken from a patient’s blood into mature macrophages, a type of white blood cell. These cells are then reinjected into the patient, where they travel to the liver and work to break down scar tissue, reduce inflammation, and encourage the growth of healthy liver cells.

In the trial, 26 patients received the macrophage therapy while 24 received standard medical care. After four years, 70 percent of those who received the therapy were alive without requiring a liver transplant, compared to 40 percent in the standard care group. Among the treated patients, there were eight deaths and no liver transplants, while the control group saw nine deaths and five liver transplants. Researchers reported no serious side effects linked to the treatment.