MSC vs HSCT for Liver Cirrhosis: what the registries show
For Liver Cirrhosis, the registry holds 62 MSC records against 21 HSCT records. MSC carries the larger research programme; neither column is a head-to-head efficacy result. Snapshot 2026-08-29.
Side by side
| Metric | MSC | HSCT |
|---|---|---|
| Registered studies | 62 | 21 |
| Recruiting now | 5 | 1 |
| Phase 3 or 4 records | 4 | 3 |
| Completed | 18 | 7 |
| Stopped early | 1 | 1 |
| Countries with sites | 12 | 9 |
| Median planned enrolment | 30 | 30 |
| First registration year | 2,006 | 2,006 |
The condition underneath the comparison
In cirrhosis, functioning liver tissue has been replaced by scar, and portal pressure rises as a result. Cell therapy is studied for anti-fibrotic and regenerative support, usually as a bridge rather than a substitute for transplantation. The liver's genuine regenerative capacity makes the rationale more biologically plausible here than in most indications — which is not the same as effective.
MSC: what it is
Mesenchymal stromal cells are the workhorse of commercial cell therapy: easy to source from fat, cord or marrow, easy to expand, and rarely characterised in the same way twice. Their proposed action is paracrine — signalling molecules that damp inflammation — rather than replacement of lost tissue. That matters when reading counts like these, because two studies filed under the same label can test materially different products at different doses by different routes.
HSCT: what it is
Haematopoietic transplantation is the oldest and most consequential cell therapy in medicine, with conditioning regimens that carry real mortality risk alongside genuine disease-modifying power. Registrations under this label therefore mix decades-old standard-of-care protocols with newer autoimmune-reset trials, and the risk profile is nothing like that of an outpatient infusion.
Maturity difference
MSC has 4 Phase 3/4 records and 18 completed studies; HSCT has 3 and 7. Where both sit early on the ladder, the honest answer to "which works better" is that registrations cannot tell you.
Leading MSC studies
| Study | Phase | Status | Planned n | Lead sponsor | Start |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCT04689152 — Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Cellgram-LC Administration in Patients With Alcoholic Cirrhosis | Phase 3 | Recruiting | 200 | Pharmicell Co., Ltd. | 2021-03-02 |
| NCT07413549 — Clinical Study of Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells Injection in Patients With Decompensated Hepatitis B Cirrhosis | Phase 1, Phase 2 | Recruiting | 76 | Beijing Tuohua Weiye Biotechnology Co., Ltd. | 2025-02-25 |
| NCT05224960 — Human Umbilical Cord-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Decompensated Cirrhosis (MSC-DLC-2) | Phase 2 | Recruiting | 140 | Beijing 302 Hospital | 2024-06-27 |
| NCT03826433 — hUC Mesenchymal Stem Cells (19#iSCLife®-LC) in the Treatment of Decompensated Hepatitis b Cirrhosishepatitis b Cirrhosis | Phase 1 | Recruiting | 20 | Sclnow Biotechnology Co., Ltd. | 2018-10-01 |
| NCT06564740 — Stem Cell Applications in Biliary Atresia Patients | n/a | Recruiting | 64 | Necmi Kadıoğlu Hospital | 2024-06-01 |
Leading HSCT studies
| Study | Phase | Status | Planned n | Lead sponsor | Start |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCT07028112 — Impact of Iron Overload on the Incidence of Liver Complications in Long-Term Survivors (≥10 Years) of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem-Cell Transplantati | n/a | Recruiting | 500 | Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris | 2025-08-20 |
| NCT04243681 — Combination of Autologous MSC and HSC Infusion in Patients With Decompensated Cirrhosis | Phase 4 | Completed | 5 | Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, India | 2019-07-01 |
| NCT01854125 — Autologous Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation in Cirrhosis Patients With Refractory Ascites | Phase 3 | Unknown | 30 | Nanjing PLA General Hospital | 2013-05 |
| NCT01491165 — Safety and Efficacy of Stem Cell Transplantation for Treatment of Liver Cirrhosis | Phase 2, Phase 3 | Unknown | 75 | General Hospital of Chinese Armed Police Forces | 2011-12 |
| NCT03468699 — Autologous Bone Marrow Mononuclear Stem Cell for Children Suffering From Liver Cirrhosis Due to Biliary Atresia | Phase 2 | Completed | 17 | Vinmec Research Institute of Stem Cell and Gene Technology | 2017-01-02 |
The honest comparison
Head-to-head trials putting these two approaches in the same protocol are rare or absent for most conditions. Comparing counts from separate registry queries shows where research effort went — driven by cost, regulation and sponsor interest as much as by biology. Anyone presenting one column of this table as proof of superiority is overreading it.
Frequently asked
Is MSC better than HSCT for Liver Cirrhosis?
The registries cannot answer that. They show research volume and maturity, not comparative effectiveness: 62 vs 21 registered records (2026-08-29).
Which has more late-stage research for Liver Cirrhosis?
MSC: 4 Phase 3/4 records. HSCT: 3.
Can a clinic offer both?
Some do, which is itself worth questioning — a provider offering every modality for every condition is describing a business model, not a treatment rationale.
Registry and literature counts retrieved 2026-08-29 (ClinicalTrials.gov API v2; PubMed E-utilities). Registration or publication volume measures research activity, not effectiveness or approval. Educational information — not medical advice; verify product, indication, legal pathway and evidence with an independent qualified physician. Page generated 2026-08-29. See our editorial standards.