Use of Stem Cells in Lymphedema Post Mastectomy

Phase 1:

The procedure will be as follows:

10 patients were recruited in the General Surgery or Oncology meeting the inclusion criteria. During the study, patients can´t use any other kind of treatment for the lymphedema.

Visit 1: We explain the procedure by inviting patients to participate after signing informed consent. There will be a complete medical history, review of inclusion and exclusion criteria, signing a letter of informed consent, be requested general laboratory tests (blood count, biochemical profile), tele-ray.

Visit 2: Initiation colony stimulating factor (Filgrastim SC) to 300 micrograms per day for 3 consecutive days.

Visit 3: Conduct a puncture and bone marrow harvesting under local anesthesia of the posterior iliac crest with Jamshidi needle to aspirate (approximately 50 - 100ml). The product obtained will be centrifuged in a refrigerated centrifuge at 3500 Sigma EK15 ® rpm/15 minutes to 8 ° C with HES 6% (pentastarch 6g/100ml) to obtain the mononuclear cell layer. Once the cells were obtained will be transported to the operating room to manage the patient by intramuscular injection of 0.5 to 1 ml in 30 to 50 sites of the affected limb with a depth of about one centimeter, using a needle number 25. The administration will take place in the operating room under local anesthesia or sedation if necessary.

Visit 4 and subsequent: clinical evaluation will be conducted each week, especially data monitoring of infection in the puncture sites. At week 12 post-cell infusion, the latest revision will be made and carried out measurements in both arms to conclude and determine the outcome of treatment.

Phase 2 (Control group):

Another 10 patients with lymphedema will be included in a 6 week study to compare the most common treatment of the lymphedema, the compressed sleeves.

Visit 1: A complete medical history will be performed. A compression sleeve will be given to the patients for their use during the next 2 weeks.

Visit 2 and 3: On week 2 and 3 of the compression sleeve treatment, the patients will be measured in both upper extremities as well as assess the symptoms or not that patients present.

Visit 4 and 5: Patients will stop using the compression sleeve treatment for the next 2 weeks measured both upper extremities and interrogate patients about symptoms during this period.

Visit 6 and 7: The last 2 weeks of the study patients will be asked to restart the compressed sleeves treatment and measured both upper extremities and interrogate patients about symptoms presented during this stage of the study.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients with postsurgical lymphedema in upper extremities following axillary lymphadenectomy.
• Female gender.
• Age over 18 years.
• Patients who wish to participate in the study.
• Informed consent signed.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with hypercoagulable states.
• Patients with a history of obstructive vascular disease in the brain, kidneys or heart.
• Patients with congestive heart failure (ejection fraction less than 30%)
• Active infectious process, serious, anywhere in the body.
• Patients over 75 years of age.