A Phase I Trial Delivers Real Numbers

Liver cirrhosis has long been considered irreversible. Once scar tissue forms, the prevailing wisdom was you can only slow it down. That thinking is shifting, and a 2026 Phase I trial just added significant weight to the argument.

The trial tested allogeneic umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) administered directly into the hepatic artery. Twelve patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis (Child-Pugh B and C) received three infusions over six weeks.

How Hepatic Artery Delivery Works

Why not just inject MSCs intravenously? When given through a peripheral vein, most MSCs get trapped in the lungs — the “pulmonary first-pass effect.” By threading a catheter into the hepatic artery, cells go directly to the liver, resulting in 8x higher engraftment.

Results at 48 Weeks

The results were striking:

• Albumin levels increased by an average of 4.2 g/L (p=0.003)
• Child-Pugh scores improved in 8 of 12 patients by at least 2 points
• MELD scores dropped by a mean of 3.1 points
• Fibrosis markers (FIB-4, APRI) decreased significantly at 24 and 48 weeks
• Adverse events: transient fever in 3 patients, mild abdominal discomfort in 2 — no serious adverse events

One patient — a 58-year-old male with hepatitis B-related cirrhosis — regressed from Child-Pugh C to Child-Pugh A. His ascites resolved completely and he was removed from the transplant waitlist.

Why Umbilical Cord Source Matters

UC-MSCs are more primitive than bone marrow-derived MSCs, with higher proliferation capacity and stronger immunosuppressive properties. They secrete more hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), which drives liver regeneration. Each infusion contained 1×10^6 cells per kilogram of body weight.

What This Means

Liver cirrhosis is highly prevalent in Southeast Asia — driven by hepatitis B, alcohol, and increasingly NAFLD. A therapy that reverses fibrosis would transform hepatology. Several Phase II trials are recruiting across Asia now.

использованная литература

Li, Y., et al. (2026). Safety and preliminary efficacy of allogeneic umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells administered via the hepatic artery in patients with liver cirrhosis: A phase I open-label trial. Stem Cell Research & Therapy, 17(1).

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