NextFin news, Chinese doctors at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University successfully transplanted a genetically modified pig liver into a 71-year-old man in May 2024, marking a world first in xenotransplantation. The patient lived for 171 days after the procedure, with the pig liver functioning in his body for 38 days before it was removed due to complications, according to a report published Thursday in the Journal of Hepatology.
The man had been hospitalized with hepatitis B-related cirrhosis, which caused irreversible scarring of his liver, and a large tumor in the right lobe of his liver. Attempts to shrink the tumor with targeted chemotherapy failed, and surgical removal of part of his liver was deemed insufficient to meet his metabolic needs. After no suitable human liver donors were found among his family, the genetically modified pig liver transplant was considered the only remaining option to save his life.
The pig liver came from an 11-month-old cloned pig with 10 gene edits designed to reduce the risk of infection and immune rejection. Doctors administered immunosuppressive drugs to prevent the patient's body from rejecting the foreign organ. The transplant initially appeared successful: the pig liver turned red immediately after transplantation, bile secretion increased progressively, and liver function indicators improved without signs of inflammation or rejection during the first 10 days.
However, by day 25 post-surgery, the patient’s heart showed signs of stress, and inflammatory changes related to the transplant were detected by days 28 and 33. The medical team adjusted immunosuppressive medications, but the patient developed xenotransplantation-associated thrombotic microangiopathy, a condition involving microscopic blood clots damaging small blood vessels and organs. On day 38, the pig liver was removed as the patient’s own liver was deemed capable of sustaining his body.
Following removal of the pig liver, the patient’s liver function remained stable, but he developed upper gastrointestinal bleeding on day 135 and died 171 days after the transplant procedure. The study authors emphasized that the case provides critical insights into the feasibility and challenges of pig-to-human liver transplantation, suggesting it could serve as a bridge to support patients awaiting human liver transplants or liver regeneration.
Dr. Beicheng Sun, president of the hospital and co-author of the study, stated that the trial demonstrated a genetically modified pig liver can function in the human body over an extended period, highlighting both the potential and remaining hurdles of this approach. Experts noted that while the operation does not yet enable widespread clinical use, it opens new possibilities for patients with severe liver conditions.
The shortage of human organ donors remains a significant global issue, with over 100,000 people on organ transplant waiting lists in the United States alone, including more than 9,000 awaiting liver transplants. Pig organs are considered a promising alternative due to their physiological similarities to human organs.
The study underscores the importance of continued research in xenotransplantation to address organ shortages and improve outcomes for patients with liver failure.
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