[Stem cells and regenerative medicine in urology, part 1: General concepts, kidney, testis and urinary incontinence].
BACKGROUND
Progress in stem cell study and tissue engineering reached during the last times proves that this may be one of the most promising research fields in the future. Most urological diseases could profit from the development of disciplines such as regenerative medicine as, up to now, there have been encouraging results in this subject.


METHODS
We performed an electronic research through the Pubmed database, of both original and review publications, with the following search criteria: stem cells urology, kidney stem cells, testis stem cells, urinary sphincter, cell therapy urology, tissue engineering urology y regenerative medicine urology.


RESULTS
We reviewed 33 articles published up to January 2010, trying to summarize the most relevant findings within the last years, the clinical applications and the point we have come to this day.


CONCLUSIONS
Cell therapy and regenerative medicine are showing themselves to be one of the most promising fields within urological basic investigation in the last years. However, there is much work to be done yet, to make the advances reached in basic research be applicable to the clinic.
Pastor-Navarro
T
T
Servicio de Urología, Hospital Universitario Doctor Peset, Valencia, España. tpastorn@yahoo.es
Moratalla-Charcos
L M
LM
Bermell-Marco
L
L
Beamud-Cortés
M
M
Osca-García
J M
JM
Gil-Salom
M
M
D006801:Humans; D044968:Regenerative Medicine; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D014570:Urologic Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D014572:Urology / Q000379:methods