Advanced cosmetic surgery in breast augmentation (bust up), breast reconstruction, facial anti-aging, and buttock lift.

Ms. B (age 45), who works as an administrator, found out she has breast cancer at her medical examination.
Although she received breast preservation operation, she is considering breast reconstruction due to a mental stress from deformation.

Professor, Department of Plastic Surgery Kyorin University (Tokyo Mitaka-shi) School of Medicine
Honorary Professor, University of Tokyo
Honorary Director, Cellport Clinic Yokohama
Harii Kiyonori MD

Regarding the treatment of cancer, there has been image of fighting with one's life against the disease. However, lately curable cancers are increasing, and as a new perspective of value against the cancer treatment, the [importance of QOL (Quality of Life)], is being established. A good example is the breast cancer. Because the age of onset is 40's which is relatively young, and the survival rate of 10 years post operation is over 80%, many of the patients are strongly concerned with better life after the recovery.

Generally, the operation method of breast reconstruction can be roughly divided into 2; tissue flap and artificial implant. Tissue flap is a method that cut one's own fat all together with the skin and the blood vessels the size of the reconstruct area from the abdomen or the back and transplanted, and it is covered by the public medical insurance. While it is safe and comforting to know that one's own tissue is used, there will be 20 to 30 cm of scar left on the area where the fat and the muscle were cut from.

On the other hand, the artificial implant is a method that transplants implant such as silicone bag. Because stabilized increase of volume can be expected, it is widely used in cosmetic purpose breast augmentation procedure. However, due to the foreign body reaction against the artificial implant, cases where the breasts harden or deform are not small in number. Also, there may be problems such as unnatural body shape, for only the breasts will not follow the natural aging process of the body.

Both has its advantages and disadvantages, so women who have had breast cancer will have to make the choice of the post-operative care on her own, considering every element such as the condition of her breasts, emotional condition, and her living environment.

A new regenerative therapy technology that is being noticed as the next generation medical treatment is giving the breast cancer patients a third option. It is called [CAL (Cell-Assisted Lipotransfer) Soft Tissue Augmentation Procedure]. It is a highly advanced medical treatment that was developed by the plastic surgery team in University of Tokyo, in which a concept of the stem cell treatment has been added to a lipotransfer and lipo-injection performed in the field of cosmetic surgery.

First, using a thin, long tube called cannula and putting it under a negative pressure, the fat is suctioned from the abdomen or thighs. The suctioned fat is divided into 2 parts, one for injection purpose and the other for the adipose-derived stem cells processing purpose, and it goes through a set of fixed procedure. Lastly, the stem cells extracted from the finished processing are mixed into the fat for injection purpose, and injected into the breasts, the reconstruct area.

The stem cells injected are thought to be reproducing the destroyed fat from the liposuction into living tissue by vascularization process (process creating new blood vessels). The fat from the abdomen or thighs are modifying the hollow space from the cancer excision, and regenerating as part of one's body. Both liposuction and lipo-injection do not involve big skin incision, and no visible wound will be made. Also, since it is autologous fat transplantation, there is no need to worry about foreign body reaction.

The breast reconstruction from regenerative therapy is receiving the world's recognition because it can be applied to other area in the body where body volume increase is necessary. But it has its flaws such as difficulty of dramatic volume increase with one operation; it is not perfect. Whichever operation method is chosen, it is vital that the decision is made through the informed consent (thorough explanation and agreement).

Symposium Special Lecture: The Industrial Usage of Human Stem Cells toward the Advance in Drug Development Process
Symposium Name: The Corporate Strategy for Bioventure - Regenerative Medicine and Evaluation Test Related Field
Organizer: Kuwata Tamotsu (Meiji Dairies Corporation), Hashizume Shuichi (Morinaga & CO., LTD)

Symposium Lecture :
[Field of Regenerative Medicine]

1. Aso Masanobu (CellGenTech, Inc) [Cell Medicine Development of Disease Treatment Protein Genes Established Human Pre-Adipose Tissue, and its Efficiency]
2. Hasegawa Yukio (Cellseed Inc.) [Creating a Regenerative Medicine Business Using Intelligent Materials]
3. Yokoyama Chikahumi (ReproCELL Inc.) [Business Development of New Drug Development Technology Using Embryo Stem Cell]
4. Kuwana Ryuji (Biomaster, Inc.) [Report of Cellport Clinic Yokohama Activities - CAL Soft Tissue Augmentation Procedure Using Adipose-Derived Stem Cells]
5. Hata Ken-ichiro, (Japan Tissue Engineering Co., Ltd. (J-TEC)) [Measures toward Industrialization of the Regenerative Medicine Using Autologous Cells]

[Field of Evaluation Test]

6. Yasuyuki Ishizuka (Applied Cell Biotechnologies) [The Status and Business Development of our Company]
7. Sakura Takeshi (Transparent Inc.) [Creating Cell Spheroid Array Aiming for New Drug Development Screening]
8. Ookishi Haruyuki (Human Metabolome Technologies, Inc.) [Industrial Application of Metabolome Analysis Technology by CE-MS]
9. Kajimoto Yoshitaka (Soiken Holdings Inc.) [Business Strategy of Soiken Group Discovering the Needs for Potential Medical Care]
10. Ichien Go (HuBit Genomix, Inc.) [Research and Business connecting Medical Science and Medical Treatment]