Japanese researchers to try stem cell breast regeneration

The Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun is reporting that Kyushu University and Osaka University are planning to form a new research institute this spring with the goal of regenerating breast tissue of mastectomy patients from their own stem cells. Right now, breast reconstruction commonly involves silicon injections and fat implants. But silicon poses risk of infection and fat implants are absorbed by the body. The paper reports that researchers at the new institute will remove 200 to 400 milliliters of fat from a patient's abdomen, extract a large number of stem cells, then give patients 30 to 40 injections in the breast area. The treatment, if successful, would restore the breast, according to researchers. Report