title: Biological therapies in otology.
abstract: Hearing loss is present in millions of people worldwide. Current treatment for patients with severe to profound hearing loss consists of cochlear implantation. Providing the cochlear nerve is intact, patients generally benefit greatly from this intervention, frequently achieving significant improvements in speech comprehension. There are, however, some cases where current technology does not provide patients with adequate benefit. Ongoing research in cell transplantation and gene therapy promises to lead to new developments that will improve the function of cochlear implants. Translation of these experimental approaches is presently at an early stage. This review focuses on the application of biological therapies in severe hearing loss and discusses some of the barriers to translating basic scientific research into clinical reality. We emphasize the application of these novel therapies to cochlear implantation.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde OE 6500, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany. roemer.ariane@mh-hannover.de.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roemer
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, KS, USA.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Staecker
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde OE 6500, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sasse
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde OE 6500, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lenarz
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde OE 6500, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Warnecke
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001691:Biological Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care
keywords: Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy; Cochlear implantats; Neuroprotection; Otologic surgical procedures; Polyphenols