Clinical Safety and Efficacy of Allogeneic Adipose Stem Cells: A Systematic Review of the Clinical Trials.

Allogeneic adipose stem cells (AASCs) are increasingly recognized for their potential in regenerative medicine. They offer a promising alternative to autologous cells, with potential advantages such as availability and reduced morbidity in the recipient. Therefore, the aim of the present systematic review was to explore AASCs applications in various diseases and conditions, including skin lesions, Crohn's disease, glandular dysfunction, kidney disease, spinal muscular atrophy and osteoarthritis. This review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines; PubMed, Embase and Web of Science databases were used to search for studies published between 2011 and 2024, without language restrictions. Our review was strictly limited to the inclusion of controlled clinical trials to ensure the relevance and quality of the data. After screening, 22 articles were retained, with a total of 953 patients that met the established inclusion criteria. The data obtained from these studies showed that AASCs have promising efficacy in improving scars and ulcers, managing Crohn's disease, and treating glandular dysfunction and kidney disease. In spinal muscular atrophy and osteoarthritis, preliminary results also suggested potential benefits. AASCs-based treatments were well tolerated with no major adverse effects, thus emphasizing their favorable safety profile. AASCs show a significant potential for a variety of clinical applications, but the results must be interpreted with caution due to the methodological limitations of the included studies. Well-designed Phase III clinical trials are needed to confirm these promising results and ensure the safe and effective use of AASCs in clinical practice. This review highlights the importance of the standardization of procedures and raises relevant ethical issues related to the use of donor cells.