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Updated: May 27, 2026

Cell-based Therapy for Heart Failure in Rat: Double Thoracotomy for Myocardial Infarction and Epicardial Implantation of Cells and Biomatrix
Published on: September 22, 2014
Cell therapy for refractory angina: time for more ACTion
Insights
Autologous CD34+ progenitor cell therapy significantly improved exercise tolerance and reduced angina symptoms in patients with chronic ischemic heart disease. This cell therapy offers a promising new avenue for refractory angina patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Regenerative Medicine
- Cell Therapy
Background:
- Chronic ischemic heart disease presents a significant burden, necessitating advanced therapies for patients with refractory symptoms.
- Existing research has primarily focused on cell therapy for myocardial infarction, with limited exploration for chronic angina.
- Coronary revascularization and optimized medical therapy are often insufficient for severe, chronic ischemic conditions.
Discussion:
- The ACT34-CMI trial investigated autologous peripheral blood-derived CD34+ progenitor cells for chronic ischemic heart disease.
- This phase II study demonstrated significant benefits in symptom frequency and exercise capacity in patients with refractory angina.
- The trial highlights the potential of cell-based approaches for treating debilitating chronic ischemic conditions.
Key Insights:
- Myocardial injection of CD34+ progenitor cells improved perfusion and vascularity in preclinical models.
- Clinical application in the ACT34-CMI trial showed tangible improvements for patients with Class III and IV angina.
- The study provides crucial data supporting cell therapy as a viable treatment for chronic ischemic heart disease.
Outlook:
- Further research and larger trials are warranted to solidify the role of CD34+ cell therapy in cardiovascular medicine.
- This approach could offer a new therapeutic strategy for patients ineligible for traditional revascularization.
- Advancements in cell-based therapies hold promise for enhancing myocardial function and patient quality of life.
Abstract:
Chronic ischemic heart disease is a major cause of patient morbidity and healthcare expenditure. The development of therapies aimed to enhance angiogenesis is targeted for patients with severe ischemic symptoms that persist despite optimized medical therapy and in whom coronary revascularization procedures are no longer feasible or helpful. Several different stem, progenitor and mature cell types have so far shown potential to improve myocardial perfusion and vascularity after transplantation in preclinical models of ischemia. However, human studies of cell-based transfer have heavily focused on preventing cardiac remodeling and dysfunction in the setting of myocardial infarction, while relatively few have addressed the use of cells to treat patients suffering from chronic debilitating angina. To this end, the recent ACT34-CMI trial represents a seminal milestone in the clinical evolution of cell therapy for chronic ischemic heart disease. In this phase II placebo-controlled study, myocardial injection of autologous peripheral blood-derived CD34+ progenitor cells was shown to confer considerable benefit for symptom frequency and exercise tolerance in patients with refractory, class III and IV angina. The present commentary reviews the key lessons from this unique trial and considers its contributions in moving the field of cell-based cardiovascular research forward.
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