Study: Stem cell therapy restores vision in LSCD patients

Editor's Note

A novel stem cell treatment for unilateral limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD)—a type of corneal disease caused by injury—restored corneal function in half of study participants within three months, according to a March 5 report in Medical News Today.

According to the article, the experimental therapy, cultivated autologous limbal epithelial cells (CALEC), demonstrated increasing effectiveness over time, with a success rate of 79% at 12 months. Researchers noted a high safety profile, positioning CALEC as a promising alternative to traditional treatments that pose risks to the donor eye or require systemic immunosuppression.

As detailed in the article, LSCD occurs when limbal stem cells, responsible for regenerating the cornea, are depleted due to injuries such as chemical burns or prolonged contact lens wear. The condition can lead to severe pain, vision loss, and an inability to undergo standard corneal transplants. Existing treatments, including limbal stem cell transplants and amniotic membrane patching, have limitations, particularly in cases where damage extends to both eyes.

The clinical trial, led by Dr. Ula Jurkunas of Mass Eye and Ear and Harvard Medical School, tested CALEC’s ability to restore corneal function by harvesting a small sample of limbal cells from a patient’s healthy eye, Medical News Today reports. These cells were cultured at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute before being transplanted into the damaged eye. Once engrafted, the cells repopulated the cornea’s surface, in some cases eliminating the need for a follow-up corneal transplant.

At three months, 50% of participants (15 total) experienced full corneal restoration. By 12 months, this figure increased to 79%, slightly tapering to 77% at 18 months, Medical News Today reports. The researchers also reported minimal adverse effects, with only one infection occurring, unrelated to the CALEC procedure itself.  

Researchers reportedly plan to expand the trial into a phase 3 study with a randomized design comparing CALEC to other treatments. They are also exploring the possibility of using donor-derived stem cells rather than cells harvested from a patient’s own eye, which could benefit those with bilateral injuries.

The full article offers additional detail and context, including reflections on the study from Dr. Benjamin Bert, a board-certified ophthalmologist at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center.