Breakthrough for Cancer Patients: Lymph Nodes Can Be Regenerated
2026-01-28 10:20:00 / News
In recent years, the global incidence of cancer has been steadily increasing. During cancer diagnosis and treatment, surgical removal of lymph nodes is often necessary to determine disease staging and prevent tumor spread. While this procedure plays a critical role in oncology, it frequently leads to serious long-term complications. One of the most common is lymphedema, a condition characterized by chronic swelling of the limbs, pain, reduced mobility, and a significant decline in quality of life. Until now, no effective method existed to fully restore damaged or removed lymphatic tissue.
Japanese scientists have achieved a major breakthrough in this field. Researchers from the Tokyo University of Science have successfully regenerated fully functional lymph nodes for the first time. Their approach involved using mesenchymal stem cells as a structural cellular scaffold combined with lymphatic endothelial cells. To ensure optimal cell distribution and to mimic the natural architecture of lymph nodes, each stage of the process was carefully optimized using centrifugation. This innovative method was named Centrifugal Bioengineered Lymphatic Tissue (CeLyT).
The technology was tested in laboratory mice from which the popliteal and inguinal lymph nodes had been completely removed. Within ten days following cell transplantation, researchers observed the restoration of lymphatic flow and the formation of new blood vessels. Over time, the newly formed structures exhibited key characteristics of fully functional lymphatic tissue. These findings demonstrated that lymph nodes can not only be regenerated structurally but can also recover their essential physiological functions.
According to the researchers, CeLyT technology has the potential to become a viable therapeutic solution for thousands of patients who develop lymphedema after lymph node removal during cancer treatment. Although the research is currently at the preclinical stage, the results indicate significant promise for future clinical applications.
Meanwhile, scientists worldwide continue to explore other innovative cancer therapies, particularly in the field of immunotherapy. Several emerging approaches have already shown remarkable success in eliminating tumors, even in cases involving metastasis. These advances suggest that cancer is increasingly becoming a manageable disease rather than an inevitable fatal diagnosis.
The Japanese scientists’ achievement in lymph node regeneration represents a major milestone in medical science and could pave the way toward improved treatment outcomes and a better quality of life for millions of patients worldwide.