Stem cell based therapy for lung disease preclinical evidence for the role of stem/stromal cells clinical application of stem/stromal cells in lung fibrosis

Preclinical studies suggest that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) may represent a potential therapeutic option for the treatment of chronic lung diseases including Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). IPF is an inexorably progressive lung disease of unknown origin. Despite the recent availability of two approved treatment options, median survival remains poor at 3–5 years. While there remains a pressing need for further exploration of interval endpoints and biomarkers, promising results of Phase 1 studies of MSCs have reduced safety concerns and encouraged further interest in the potential applicability of cell-based therapeutic approaches for chronic lung diseases like IPF. This chapter will summarize the current state of knowledge regarding the use of stem cells for the treatment of IPF, present important safety and efficacy issues highlighting current and future challenges, and address the need for large, multicenter clinical trials coupled with realistic end-points, including biomarkers, to assess treatment efficacy.