Part of a Pig Liver was Transplanted into a Human

image via New Scientist

October 10, 2025, 6:00 PM

• •A genetically modified pig liver segment was transplanted into a human with cancer.
• •The pig liver supported the patient's metabolic functions for 38 days.
• •The surgery aimed to provide temporary support, allowing the patient's liver to regenerate.
• •The study highlights advancements in xenotransplantation, with more research needed.

Chinese scientists performed a xenotransplantation, transplanting a genetically modified pig liver segment into a patient with cancer, where it functioned for 38 days before complications necessitated its removal. The procedure, part of ongoing xenotransplantation research, demonstrated the pig organ's ability to support the patient's metabolic functions. This work allows the patient's own liver to regenerate, providing a temporary bridge until a human liver can be transplanted. While the surgery was technically successful, more research is needed to fully understand the pig liver's role in human liver regeneration.

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