Autologous cell harvesting device provides repigmentation and improves quality-of-life for patients with stable vitiligo lesions in a large and diverse patient population
- PMID: 40158537
- DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2025.03.066
Autologous cell harvesting device provides repigmentation and improves quality-of-life for patients with stable vitiligo lesions in a large and diverse patient population
Abstract
Introduction: The mental health burden associated with vitiligo can significantly impact patients' quality-of-life. Although successful for repigmentation of stable vitiligo, adoption of surgical melanocyte transplantation remains limited due to time and skilled-expertise requirements. A cell harvesting device prepares autologous skin cell suspension (ASCS) at point of care, simplifying the process.
Objective: To confirm early and favorable repigmentation response and evaluate health-related quality-of-life changes following ASCS treatment of stable vitiligo.
Methods: In this large (N = 107), prospective, multicenter study, vitiligo lesions were laser-ablated and received ASCS treatment followed by at-home phototherapy.
Results: All Fitzpatrick skin types and major vitiligo subtypes were represented. Excellent repigmentation response (≥80%) was observed by week 4. By week-24, all lesions demonstrated improvement; 67% achieved >50% repigmentation, 42% achieved ≥80% repigmentation, and 8% achieved complete repigmentation. Vitiligo Noticeability Scale response was attained by 27.7% of lesions; 72.3% of patients reported treatment satisfaction. Significant improvement from baseline in Vitiligo Quality-of-Life Instrument (P < .05) was observed at week-24.
Limitations: No control.
Conclusions: The cell harvesting device provides a simplified, more accessible technique for melanocyte transplantation. ASCS is highly effective for repigmentation of stable vitiligo lesions, with positive patient-reported outcomes and improvement in quality-of-life, as demonstrated in this large, diverse population.
Keywords: ASCS; RECELL; autologous cell harvesting device; autologous skin cell suspension; cellular grafting; melanocyte transplantation; noncultured skin cell suspension; procedural dermatology; repigmentation; vitiligo; vitiligo surgery.
Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Conflict of interest statement
Conflicts of interest Dr Pandya is an investigator for Incyte, AVITA Medical, Clinuvel. They are also a consultant for AbbVie, AVITA Medical, Boehringer Ingelheim, Immune Tolerance Network, Incyte, Lilly, Pfizer, Sun, Thalocan, WCG, Villaris, Vimela, Vyne. They have partial ownership in Tara Medical. Dr Mahmoud is an investigator for AVITA Medical. Dr Huggins is an investigator and consultant for AVITA Medical and Incyte and has served as an investigator for Arcutis, Clinuvel, Novartis, Mitsubishi, Pfizer and The Immune Tolerance Network. Dr Ganesan is an investigator for AbbVie. Dr Silverberg is an investigator or consultant for AVITA Medical, Dermavant, Incyte, Pelthos, Pfizer, Regeneron, Sanofi, and Verrica. Dr Munavalli is an investigator and speaker for AVITA Medical. Dr Skelsey is an investigator for AVITA Medical and Castle Biosciences. Dr Zubair is an investigator for Pfizer and AVITA Medical. They are also a consultant for AVITA Medical. Author Lal is a speaker for Incyte, AbbVie, Pfizer, Galderma, Loreal, Boehringer Ingelheim, Arcutis, Lilly, Sciton, Aerolase, and Sun Pharma. Dr Jensen is an investigator for Sanofi, Sun Pharmaceuticals, VYNE Therapeutics, Kashiv Biosciences, AVITA Medical, Corvus Pharmaceuticals, Celldex Therapeutics Inc., Amgen, Argenx, Aclaris Therapeutics, Incyte Pharmaceuticals, Inmagene Biopharmaceuticals, and Therapeutics Inc. Dr Ezra is a speaker and consultant for Abbvie, Amgen, Novartis, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Galderma, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Leo Pharma. Dr Siperstein is an investigator for AVITA Medical, AbbVie, Galderma, Sciton, and Cutera and a consultant for AbbVie. They are also a speaker for Allergan, Galderma, and Sciton. Dr Noell is an investigator for AVITA Medical. Dr Hamzavi has served as an advisory board member for AbbVie; a consultant for Boehringer Ingelheim, AVITA Medical, Galderma Laboratories LP, Incyte, Pfizer and UCB; a principal investigator for AVITA, Bayer, Estée Lauder, Ferndale Laboratories, Incyte Corporation, Lenicura, L’Oréal, Pfizer and Unigen; immediate past president of the HS Foundation; and a board member of the Global Vitiligo Foundation. Author Grekin and Dr Weiss have no conflicts of interest to declare.
