Patient after receiving lab-treated liver: 'I am very grateful for the life-saving organ'

Liver4Life, a multidisciplinary research team based in Zurich, has achieved a monumental milestone by treating a human liver using an innovative machine. This groundbreaking achievement is the first of its kind, where a damaged liver was effectively treated outside of the body and subsequently transplanted into a cancer patient. The patient, who underwent the procedure a year ago, is currently enjoying good health, serving as a testament to the efficacy of this groundbreaking approach.

The key to the Liver4Life team's success lies in their perfusion machine. This machine mimics the functions of the human body, providing optimal conditions for the liver during treatment. Acting as a substitute for vital organs, the machine incorporates a pump that emulates the heart, an oxygenator that simulates lung function and a dialysis unit that replicates kidney functions. Additionally, the machine administers various hormone and nutrient infusions to mimic the roles of the intestine and pancreas. To simulate natural conditions, the machine also synchronizes with human breathing, similar to the movement of the diaphragm in the human body. This groundbreaking technology was the result of collaborative efforts between the University Hospital Zurich (USZ), ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich (UZH).

In January 2020, the research team demonstrated the viability of storing a liver outside of the body for several days using perfusion technology. By subjecting the liver to various drugs and treatments within the machine, the team successfully transformed a liver initially deemed unsuitable for transplantation due to poor quality into a healthy organ. The prolonged perfusion process enabled antibiotic or hormonal therapies and optimization of liver metabolism, while also allowing for extensive laboratory and tissue testing without time constraints. In contrast, conventional storage methods on ice or commercially available perfusion machines limit organ preservation to only 12 hours.

In May 2021, as part of an approved individual treatment attempt, the Liver4Life team transplanted the treated liver into a cancer patient who had been on the Swiss transplant waiting list. Following the successful transplantation, the patient was discharged from the hospital within days and has since experienced a positive recovery.

The patient expressed gratitude for the transplant.

"I am very grateful for the life-saving organ," the patient said. "Due to my rapidly progressing tumor, I had little chance of getting a liver from the waiting list within a reasonable period of time."

The groundbreaking achievement of the Liver4Life project was published in the prestigious scientific journal Nature Biotechnology on May 31, 2022. Pierre-Alain Clavien, the director of the Department of Visceral Surgery and Transplantation at the University Hospital Zurich (USZ), highlights the life-saving potential of their therapy.

"Our therapy shows that by treating livers in the perfusion machine, it is possible to alleviate the lack of functioning human organs and save lives," Clavien said.

Mark Tibbitt, a professor of macromolecular engineering at ETH Zurich, adds that the interdisciplinary approach demonstrated in this project represents the future of medicine, allowing for faster implementation of new findings in patient care.

Moving forward, the Liver4Life project aims to expand its procedure to other patients, conducting a multicenter study to validate its efficacy and safety. The success of the Liver4Life project has the potential to transform liver transplantation into a planned elective surgery and the team is working on developing advanced perfusion machines. Additionally, researchers are exploring innovative methods of treating liver diseases outside of the body. This breakthrough brings hope to patients in need and signifies a significant advancement in transplantation medicine, revolutionizing the field and saving more lives.