Chen GY, Kang JB, Wang YK, Liu M. Dawn of a new era in olfactory regeneration: Pediatric stem cell therapy enters the era of long-term validation. World J Stem Cells 2026; 18(1): 114751 [DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v18.i1.114751]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Meng Liu, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, No. 130 West Huaihai Road, Xuzhou 221000, Jiangsu Province, China. 578647325@qq.com
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Cell & Tissue Engineering
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Letter to the Editor
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This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Jan 26, 2026 (publication date) through Jan 26, 2026
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World Journal of Stem Cells
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1948-0210
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Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 7041 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 160, Pleasanton, CA 94566, USA
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Chen GY, Kang JB, Wang YK, Liu M. Dawn of a new era in olfactory regeneration: Pediatric stem cell therapy enters the era of long-term validation. World J Stem Cells 2026; 18(1): 114751 [DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v18.i1.114751]
World J Stem Cells. Jan 26, 2026; 18(1): 114751 Published online Jan 26, 2026. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v18.i1.114751
Dawn of a new era in olfactory regeneration: Pediatric stem cell therapy enters the era of long-term validation
Guan-Yu Chen, Jia-Bing Kang, Yu-Kai Wang, Meng Liu
Guan-Yu Chen, Jia-Bing Kang, Department of Experimental Orofacial Medicine, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg 35039, Germany
Yu-Kai Wang, Department of Neurosurgery, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg 91054, Germany
Meng Liu, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221000, Jiangsu Province, China
Co-first authors: Guan-Yu Chen and Jia-Bing Kang.
Author contributions: Chen GY and Kang JB contributed equally to this manuscript and are co-first authors. Chen GY and Liu M contributed to the conception and design of the work, figure preparation, and critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content; Kang JB contributed to the conceptualization of the work and drafting of the manuscript; Wang YK contributed to the acquisition and interpretation of the literature and participated in manuscript drafting. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
Supported by China Scholarship Council, No. 202408520036.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Meng Liu, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, No. 130 West Huaihai Road, Xuzhou 221000, Jiangsu Province, China. 578647325@qq.com
Received: October 9, 2025 Revised: November 2, 2025 Accepted: December 8, 2025 Published online: January 26, 2026 Processing time: 107 Days and 12.1 Hours
Abstract
A recently published prospective study marks a breakthrough for congenital olfactory disorders in children. The study provides the first long-term, three-year follow-up data, robustly demonstrating the durable efficacy and safety of autologous nasal epithelial stem cell transplantation. This work reveals immense therapeutic potential for a condition traditionally considered untreatable. However, this milestone achievement also presents new challenges. To translate this pioneering therapy from a single-center success to a global standard, multicenter, controlled clinical trials must be initiated immediately. Only through rigorous validation can we ensure its widespread adoption and ultimately bring hope to millions of children worldwide.
Core Tip: This letter highlights a landmark prospective study that provides the first three-year follow-up evidence of autologous nasal epithelial stem cell transplantation in children with congenital olfactory disorders. The findings confirm durable efficacy and safety, transforming what was once deemed untreatable into a feasible therapeutic pathway. However, to establish this pioneering approach as a global standard, multicenter, controlled clinical trials are urgently required to validate and extend these promising results.
