By Plastic Surgery: Dr. Qiao Haoyu

According to the "Regulations for the Administration of Specific Cell Therapies" announced by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in September 2018, the appropriate cellular therapy for extensive burn injuries and chronic, hard-to-heal wounds is "autologous adipose-derived stem cell transplantation." For the filling, repair, and aesthetic improvement of scars, wrinkles, and depressions, "autologous fibroblast transplantation" is applicable.

The project utilizing autologous adipose-derived stem cells for the treatment of chronic wounds is a collaboration between the Plastic Surgery Department of the Tri-Service General Hospital and the biotechnology industry. The biotech sector is responsible for providing a Good Tissue Practice (GTP) laboratory. In the GTP laboratory, autologous tissues are processed, autologous (stem) cells are isolated, and the cells are cultured and expanded in number. The quality, function, and safety of the cells are monitored and tested to ensure that the cell isolation and culture processes meet legal and high standards.

Clinically, plastic surgeons will extract adipose tissue from patients in the operating room. The adipose tissue is then transported to the GTP laboratory following standard procedures. At the laboratory, stem cells from the adipose tissue are isolated, cultured, and subjected to all standard quality inspections and management before being sent back to the hospital. Finally, the adipose-derived stem cells are delivered to the surgeon, who will then apply them to the patient's wounds by either spraying them onto the wound or injecting them around the wound area for treatment.

Additionally, our hospital currently has a newly approved immunotherapy treatment in progress. This process involves extracting immune cells, such as leukocytes and lymphocytes, from the patient. These cells are then separated and induced to proliferate before being reintroduced into the patient's body for cancer treatment.