{
  "abstract": "Background\n\nTo evaluate the long-term safety and potential neuroprotective effects of human fetal neural precursor cell transplantation in individuals with progressive multiple sclerosis.Methods\n\nThis retrospective observational study assessed long-term follow-up data (median 5.7 years) from participants in a first-in-human phase I trial (NCT03269071) investigating neural cell transplantation in progressive multiple sclerosis. Clinical and radiological available data were collected and compared to baseline values and reference populations.Results\n\nLong-term follow-up data were available for 11 of 12 patients. No serious adverse events related to cell transplantation occurred, confirming long-term safety. Although physical disability progressed over time, cognition remained stable compared to baseline. Five patients developed new T2-hyperintense brain lesions without associated contrast enhancement. Long-term gray matter atrophy rates were lower than those observed during the initial two years post-transplantation. Rates of gray and white matter atrophy approximated those of age-matched healthy individuals and patients with early-stage multiple sclerosis, with a trend for a lower atrophy rate compared to a control cohort with progressive disease. These structural findings were consistent with stable levels of circulating biomarkers of neurodegeneration.Conclusions\n\nThe findings support the long-term safety of fetal neural cell transplantation in progressive multiple sclerosis. Although exploratory in nature, the stability of cognitive function, reduced brain atrophy, and consistent biomarker profiles support the hypothesis of a possible neuroprotective effect that warrants further investigation in a controlled clinical trial setting.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.",
    "Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina, 60, 20132, Milan, Italy.",
    "Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.",
    "Neuroimmunology Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.",
    "Neuroradiology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.",
    "Neurophysiology Service, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.",
    "Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.",
    "Clinical Neuroimmunology Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.",
    "Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina, 60, 20132, Milan, Italy. martino.gianvito@hsr.it.",
    "Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy. martino.gianvito@hsr.it.",
    "Neuroimmunology Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy. martino.gianvito@hsr.it.",
    "Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy. filippi.massimo@hsr.it.",
    "Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina, 60, 20132, Milan, Italy. filippi.massimo@hsr.it.",
    "Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy. filippi.massimo@hsr.it.",
    "Neurophysiology Service, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy. filippi.massimo@hsr.it.",
    "Neurorehabilitation Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy. filippi.massimo@hsr.it."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 16,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Maria A Rocca"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Angela Genchi"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Matteo Azzimonti"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Irene Gattuso"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Elisabetta Pagani"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Loredana Storelli"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Paolo Vezzulli"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Elena Brambilla"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1,
        5
      ],
      "name": "Roberto Santangelo"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "Raffaella Greco"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2,
        6
      ],
      "name": "Fabio Ciceri"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2,
        7
      ],
      "name": "Roberto Furlan"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Lucia Moiola"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2,
        4
      ],
      "name": "Andrea Falini"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        8,
        9,
        10
      ],
      "name": "Gianvito Martino"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        11,
        12,
        13,
        14,
        15
      ],
      "name": "Massimo Filippi"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fx158ej0m927j.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1186/s13287-026-05148-5",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13681894",
  "id": "fx158ej0m927j",
  "issns": [
    "1757-6512"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42897668",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "lcc",
      "QD415-436"
    ],
    [
      "lcc",
      "R5-920"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2734|Multiple Sclerosis Research Studies"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7170067387",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13681894?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13681894",
  "pmid": "42897668",
  "published": "2026-07-01",
  "publisher": "BMC",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fx158ej0m927j.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:19:42Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42897668",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42897668"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T13:45:50Z",
      "native_id": "e608a0f300d946a99a261f47c19f3a6a",
      "source": "doaj",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-026-05148-5"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2734|Multiple Sclerosis Research Studies",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Neural stem cell transplantation in progressive multiple sclerosis: STEMS study long-term outcomes.",
  "title_text": "Neural stem cell transplantation in progressive multiple sclerosis: STEMS study long-term outcomes.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T13:45:50Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fx158ej0m927j",
  "venue": "Stem cell research & therapy",
  "versions": []
}