Research spotlight: sirolimus-coated stents for airway tracheal stenosis: a future 3D model concept with today's...

Currently, interventional pulmonology has the tools for efficient de-bulking of tracheal stenosis, which can either be the result of cancer tissue or benign tissue growth inside the respiratory tract. There are additionally other situations, such as thracheomalece and fistula formation, which require stent placement for efficient support in the tract wall. These are situations where the placement of a stent is necessary either directly upon diagnosis or after interventional treatment. However, a major adverse effect of stent placement is the formation or reformation of granuloma tissue and the site of the lesion has to be frequently evaluated and treated. In this article we provide insights of novel methods for inhibiting the pathways that are activated or deregulated and subsequently induce granuloma tissue formation. We also present a future 3D model that we are currently constructing in our laboratory from human lung fibroblast (adult) in order to evaluate novel local treatment administrations with sirolimus biodegradable stents, in order to block or prolong the granuloma tissue formation.