Cell-based therapy for urinary incontinence.

Urinary incontinence has become a societal problem that affects millions of people worldwide. Although numerous therapeutic modalities are available, none has been shown to be entirely satisfactory. Consequently, cell-based approaches using regenerative medicine technology have emerged as a potential solution that would provide a means of correcting anatomical deficiencies and restoring normal function. As such, numerous cell-based investigations have been performed to develop systems that are focused on addressing clinical needs. While most of these attempts remain in the experimental stages, several clinical trials are being designed or are in progress. This article provides an overview of the cell-based approaches that utilize various cell sources to develop effective treatment modalities for urinary incontinence.