Stem cell therapy for the treatment of Peyronie’s disease

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Like other fibrotic diseases, the cause of Peyronie’s disease (PD) is still obscure. Since there is now increasing evidence for the role of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) as potential treatment to fibrosis, it is crucial to determine their possible efficacy in the treatment of PD.

Areas covered: In this review, the authors summarize the emerging data and published studies regarding the use of SCs for the treatment of PD. The authors provide particular focus on the three-first experimental studies for the use of SCs in rat models as well as the sole two studies undertaken in humans.

Expert opinion: It seems evident in experimental settings that SCs in general (Adipose Derived SCs in particular) provide a feasible, safe and effective therapy for PD. The potential limits of the rat models used initially have been somewhat overcome with the inception of studies in men. However, further prospective studies are needed in humans to further elucidate the therapeutic potential of stem cell therapy in PD.

KEYWORDS:

• Peyronie’s
• stem cell
• regenerative medicine
• mesenchymal cells
• adipose-derived

Article highlights

1. Peyronie’s disease is a common and disturbing disorder with obscure etiology and still no satisfactory treatment.

2. The leading hypothesis regarding pathophysiology of PD is that it results from repetitive traumatic microvascular wounds to the TA; this causes a fibrotic plaque formation.

3. SCs and especially ADSCs have been used in experimental setting as preventive and curative treatment modalities for PD.

4. ADSCs suggest a feasible, safe and effective therapeutic modality for PD. However, since initial studies in humans have poor enrollment, large prospective studies are needed.

5. Several practical issues such as cost, ease of isolation and culturing, effectiveness and source along with ease of administration should be addressed before SCs clinical application.

This box summarizes key points contained in the article.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties

Additional information

Funding

This manuscript has not been funded