While the dream of regenerative organ replacement remains elusive for most applications of
cell therapy—except for the notable success of bone marrow transplantation — the more modest goals of improving end-organ function via locoregional modulation have been suggested in some clinical studies of several vascular diseases. These investigations include ischemic heart disease, critical limb ischemia, and ischemic stroke, where modest improvements in the left ventricular ejection fraction, amputation-free survival, or neurologic outcomes have, respectively, been demonstrated following cell therapy. Unfortunately, there have also been a number of clinical trials that have failed to show benefit after stem cell implantation.
Lee S., Fereydooni A., & Dardik A. (2021) Stem Cell Delivery Techniques for Stroke and Peripheral Artery Disease. In Navarro T.P., Lopes L.L.N.M. & Dardik A. (Eds). Stem Cell Therapy for Vascular Diseases. (pp. 69-104). Switzerland: Springer Nature.