Breast cancer treatment can sometimes involve removing part or all of the breast. For many people, this leads to difficult decisions about reconstruction.
Traditional options like implants or using tissue from other parts of the body work, but they can leave scars, require long recovery times, and sometimes cause complications.
Now, researchers have created a new injectable material made from human skin cells that could make breast reconstruction safer, less invasive, and more comfortable.
This new material is a thick paste that can be injected into the body, filling the space left behind after a tumor is removed. It could offer a gentler way to restore the shape and volume of the breast without major surgery.
The research was done by a team reporting in the journal ACS Applied Bio Materials. One of the lead researchers, Pham Ngoc Chien, explained that this new approach might also help reduce inflammation and scar tissue, which are common issues with current reconstruction methods.
The material also supports the growth of new blood vessels and helps tissue heal naturally.
Currently, there are two main ways to restore breast shape after cancer surgery. The first is to rearrange the remaining tissue, which is called breast-conserving surgery.
This technique works for smaller tumors but may not be an option for everyone. The second method uses skin and fat taken from other parts of the body to fill the space. This can leave a noticeable scar at the donor site, such as the belly or back.
A newer option in plastic surgery uses a material called acellular dermal matrix (ADM). ADM is made by processing skin to remove all living cells, leaving behind helpful proteins like collagen and elastin that support healing.
Until now, ADM has mostly been used in flat sheet form for things like tendon repair. The new breakthrough is that scientists have turned ADM into a thick paste that can be injected.
To make the paste, the research team used donated skin from a living woman. They treated it through several steps to remove cells, freeze it, and grind it into tiny particles. These particles were then mixed with water to make a paste thick enough to stay in place once injected.
The team tested the paste on rats and compared it with two ADM products already on the market. After six months, the rats showed no signs of harm.
In fact, rats that received the new paste developed thinner layers of tissue around the injected material. This is important because thinner tissue means a lower chance of developing problems like infections or hard lumps.
The researchers say their findings are promising, though more safety testing is needed before the material can be used in humans. Still, the results show that the paste could become a better option for breast reconstruction. It avoids the need for major surgery and helps the body heal more naturally.
In the future, this injectable ADM paste might give patients a more comfortable and less invasive way to rebuild their breasts after cancer treatment. It may also lead to fewer scars, a quicker recovery, and better cosmetic results.
If you care about breast cancer, please read studies about how eating patterns help ward off breast cancer, and soy and plant compounds may prevent breast cancer recurrence.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how your grocery list can help guard against cancer, and a simple way to fight aging and cancer.
The study is published in ACS Applied Bio Materials.
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