Erectile Dysfunctions Publisher



Aghamir SMK¹ ; Guitynavard F¹ Show Affiliations
Source: Stem Cells in Urology Published:2020

Abstract

So far, many basic studies addressing the concept of stem cell therapy for ED. The stem cells mechanism of action is to induce angiogenesis and so increase the cavernosal smooth muscle cells within corporal bodies. Generally, erectile dysfunction treatment focuses on the symptomatic reprieve and, thus, aims to provide a temporary relief rather than cure or reverse the cause. The large number of difficult-to- treat patients has motivated the researchers to look for new treatment approaches that instead of offering ad hoc symptomatic care focus on the cure and restoration of the underlying cause. Regenerative medicine has evolved widely over the past few decades and the effects of growth factor therapy, gene transfer, stem cells, and tissue engineering to restore erectile function have been demonstrated in preclinical trials. With the subject of administration of stem cells in animal models of erectile dysfunction due to aging, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, cavernous nerve injury, Peyronie disease, and even penile trauma, a number of preclinical studies have been published. Based on these studies, there is a general consensus among researchers that using mesenchymal stem cells -mainly from the bone marrow and adipose tissue- would be a promising approach for treatment of ED. Human umbilical cord blood stem cells have recently demonstrated beneficial effects on erectile function when administered into the penises of men with severe type 2 diabetes. This influence, however, has been short-lived and not lasting. In an open dose-escalation study, another Phase I trial investigated the intracavenous administration of bone marrow cells following radical prostatectomy and reported no serious adverse effects. Conclusions on the efficacy of these trials should be drawn with the caution as these trials are designed to test safety (no control group); however, preliminary efficacy results were encouraging, with improvement in erectile function and penile vascularization measurements in a small set of patients. Although these preliminary safety data are promising, there is an eager anticipation for larger Phase I - III studies and practical tests. This chapter discusses the current status and future outlook of stem cell therapy for erectile dysfunction treatment. © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020.