title: Tracheal replacement for primary tracheal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To summarize the so far applied clinical methods of tracheal replacement, comparing pros and cons of conventional and tissue-engineered approaches.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Several strategies have been most recently described to replace the trachea-like aortic homografts, allotransplantation, and tissue engineering. Allotransplantation requires lifelong immunosuppression and this may be ethically questioned being not a lifesaving procedure. Tissue-engineered tracheal transplantation has been clinically applied using biological or bioartificial tubular or bifurcated scaffolds reseeded with mesenchymal stromal cells, and bioactive molecules boosting regeneration and promoting neovascularization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tracheal tissue engineering may be a promising alternative to conventional allotransplantation in adults and children. Different methods have been developed and are currently under active clinical investigation, and await long-term results.
authors: Division of Ear, Nose, and Throat, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology (CLINTEC), Advanced Center of Translational Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: Johannes C
authors: JC
authors: Haag
authors: Philipp
authors: P
authors: Jungebluth
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Macchiarini
mesh_terms: D021522:Bioartificial Organs; D006801:Humans; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D014132:Trachea / Q000637:transplantation*; D014134:Tracheal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*