SNUH Develops a Novel Fusion System for the Fundamental Treatment of Intractable Xerostomia
- Preclinical validation of an antioxidant hybrid protein cell carrier encapsulating adipose-derived MSC spheroids
- Synergistic effects of early ROS scavenging and late angiogenesis restore damaged salivary gland tissue architecture and fluid secretion function
A domestic research team has developed a new fusion treatment system capable of fundamentally treating xerostomia, a serious side effect of radiation therapy for head and neck cancer. The system operates on the principle of combining a "carrier" (protective shield) that removes reactive oxygen species—toxic substances that surge due to radiation therapy—with "stem cells" that generate new blood vessels. Animal experiments demonstrated that the initial protective action of the carrier and the later angiogenesis of the stem cells produced a synergistic effect, successfully regenerating destroyed salivary gland tissue and restoring its function within 6 weeks.
On April 27th, a research team led by Professor Seong-Keun Kwon from the Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Professor Ji-Hong Jeong from the Department of Transdisciplinary Medicine at SNUH announced that they have developed a ‘stem cell spheroid-loaded antioxidant hybrid protein delivery system’ that combines biomaterials and stem cells to successfully regenerate salivary gland tissue damaged by radiation.
When patients with head and neck cancer receive radiation therapy, the radiation reacts with water inside the body, generating an overwhelming amount of toxic reactive oxygen species. This toxic surge destroys the salivary glands, leading to chronic dry mouth, known as xerostomia. As a result, essential everyday functions like chewing, digestion, and speech are severely impaired, significantly reducing the patient's quality of life. Currently, clinical options are limited to temporary fixes like artificial saliva or salivary stimulants, but no fundamental method exists to regenerate the tissues. While stem cell injections have attracted attention as an alternative, their effectiveness has been highly limited. This is because the harsh, oxidative stress environment left behind by radiation makes it difficult for the cells to survive and keeps them from remaining fixed at the injury site.
To solve this challenge, the research team combined an ‘antioxidant hybrid protein delivery system’ that stably suppresses reactive oxygen species for a long period in an oxidative stress environment with a ‘stem cell spheroid’ that induces new blood vessels by secreting significantly more vascular endothelial growth factor than existing 2D cultured stem cells.