腹水濾過濃縮再静注法の現状と今後 : 医工連携による医療機器開発

Cell-free and concentrated ascites reinfusion therapy (CART) is an effective and safe therapy for patients with refractory ascites or pleural effusion. CART was mainly performed conventionally for patients with liver cirrhosis. In addition to the improvement of the device and procedure, CART has been performed widely for patients with advanced cancer by progress of the intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Furthermore, cancer therapy that applies cancer cells obtained by filtration process is considered, and CART attracts attention as one of the important therapies to support future cancer therapy. However, the therapeutic method of CART has not been standardized yet, and the accumulated evidence about its effectiveness and safety is insufficient. Therefore, aiming at the development of guidelines to perform CART safely and effectively, standardization of the CART procedure and evaluation of its efficacy and safety, establishment of an educational system, and environmental improvement, including the development of equipment, are necessary.