The survey on cellular and tissue-engineered therapies in Europe and neighboring Eurasian countries in 2014 and 2015.

BACKGROUND AIMS: With the support of five established scientific organizations, this report, the seventh of its kind, describes activity in Europe for the years 2014 and 2015 in the area of cellular and tissue-engineered therapies, excluding hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) treatments for the reconstitution of hematopoiesis.

METHODS: In 2015 [respectively 2014], 205 [276] teams from 32 countries responded to the cellular and tissue-engineered therapy survey; 178 [126] teams reported treating 3686 [2665] patients.

RESULTS: Indications were musculoskeletal/rheumatological disorders (32% [33%]), cardiovascular disorders (12% [21%]), hematology/oncology (predominantly prevention or treatment of graft versus host disease and HSC graft enhancement; 20% [20%]), neurological disorders (4% [6%]), gastrointestinal disorders (<1% [1%]) and other indications (31% [20%]). The majority of autologous cells (60% [73%]) were used to treat musculoskeletal/rheumatological (44% [36%]) disorders, whereas allogeneic cells were used mainly for hematology/oncology (61% [68%]). The reported cell types were mesenchymal stromal cells (40% [49%]), chondrocytes (13% [6%]), hematopoietic stem cells (12% [23%]), dermal fibroblasts (8% [3%]), dendritic cells (2% [2%]), keratinocytes (1% [2%]) and others (24% [15%]). Cells were expanded in vitro in 63% [40%] of the treatments, sorted in 16% [6%] of the cases and rarely transduced (<1%). Cells were delivered predominantly as suspension 43% [51%], intravenously or intra-arterially (30% [30%]), or using a membrane/scaffold (25% [19%]).

DISCUSSION: The data are compared with those from previous years to identify trends in a still unpredictably evolving field. Perspectives of representatives from plastic surgery practitioners, Iran and ISCT are presented (contributing authors D.A. Barbara, B. Hossein and W.L. Mark, respectively).