title: Regeneration of intraoral defects after tumor resection with a bioengineered human dermal replacement (Dermagraft).
abstract: The experiences of seven patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity who underwent reconstruction with a bioengineered human dermal replacement (Dermagraft) are examined. The human dermal replacement consists of fibroblasts seeded onto a three-dimensional polymer scaffold to create a living dermal structure. In this setting, the fibroblasts secrete a mixture of growth factors and matrix proteins in physiological concentration that is essential for wound healing and epithelization. The fibroblast tissue remains metabolically active after cryopreservation and can be used as an off-the-shelf tissue to cover medium-sized defects and avoid donor-site morbidity. In the first series of patients treated with this tissue, defect closure was achieved without functional problems, allowing optimal postoperative monitoring for tumor recurrence.
authors.affiliation: Charité, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Medizinische Fakultät der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Klinik für Mund-, Kiefer-, und Gesichtschirurgie, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Hans Joachim
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Gath
authors.forename: Berthold
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hell
authors.forename: Ramin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zarrinbal
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bier
authors.forename: Jan Dirk
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Raguse
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009060:Mouth Floor / Q000502:physiology*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D012038:Regeneration; D023822:Tissue Engineering