title: Remodeling an infarcted heart: novel hybrid treatment with transmyocardial revascularization and stem cell therapy.
abstract: Transmyocardial revascularization (TMR) has emerged as an additional therapeutic option for patients suffering from diffuse coronary artery disease (CAD), providing immediate angina relief. Recent studies indicate that the volume of surgical cases being performed with TMR have been steadily rising, utilizing TMR as an adjunctive therapy. Therefore the purpose of this review is to provide an up-to-date appreciation of the current state of TMR and its future developmental directions on CAD treatment. The current potential of this therapy focuses on the implementation of stem cells, in order to create a synergistic angiogenic effect while increasing myocardial repair and regeneration. Although TMR procedures provide increased vascularization within the myocardium, patients suffering from ischemic cardiomyopathy may not benefit from angiogenesis alone. Therefore, the goal of introducing stem cells is to restore the functional state of a failing heart by providing these cells with a favorable microenvironment that will enhance stem cell engraftment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ USA ; Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Arizona College of Medicine, P.O. Box 245071, 1501N. Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85724-5071 USA.
authors.forename: Jessika
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Iwanski
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ USA.
authors.forename: Raymond K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Arizona College of Medicine, P.O. Box 245071, 1501N. Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85724-5071 USA.
authors.forename: Douglas F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Larson
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Arizona College of Medicine, P.O. Box 245071, 1501N. Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85724-5071 USA ; Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ USA.
authors.forename: Alice S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Ferng
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ USA.
authors.forename: Raymond B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Runyan
authors.affiliation: Research and Development, Cryolife, Inc., Kennesaw, GA USA.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Arizona College of Medicine, P.O. Box 245071, 1501N. Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85724-5071 USA ; Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ USA ; Banner University Medical Center, 1501N. Campbell Avenue, Room 4302A, Tucson, AZ 85724 USA ; Medical Research Building, 1656 E. Mabel St, Rm 120, Tucson, AZ USA.
authors.forename: Zain
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Khalpey
keywords: Angina; CABG; Coronary artery disease; Laser therapy; Myocardial infarction; Stem cell therapy; Transmyocardial revascularization