In a groundbreaking medical achievement, a pig's liver has been transplanted into a living human recipient for the first time, marking a significant milestone in the emerging field of xenotransplantation. This procedure builds upon earlier research where a genetically modified pig's liver was successfully transplanted into a clinically dead patient. Now, Chinese scientists have advanced this field by implanting a genetically modified pig's liver into a 71-year-old man.

The patient, who suffered from both liver cancer and late-stage liver disease, was deemed ineligible for conventional liver transplants or partial organ removal. The pig's liver, which underwent 10 genetic modifications to mitigate the risk of rejection, was sourced from a Diannan miniature pig. Initial observations post-surgery were highly promising; for the first month, the transplanted liver showed no signs of rejection and functioned effectively within the human body.

However, on day 38, a serious complication arose involving an immune system reaction that damaged the lining of the blood vessels, necessitating the liver's removal. Although the medical team initially managed this complication with medication and procedures to eliminate harmful factors from the blood, the patient subsequently experienced episodes of gastrointestinal haemorrhage. Tragically, the patient died on day 171 following the transplant.

Despite the patient's eventual passing, the study's authors, including Dr. Beicheng Sun from the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University in China, emphasized the procedure's significance. Dr. Sun stated that this case demonstrates a genetically engineered pig liver's capacity to function in a human for an extended period, highlighting both the immense promise and the remaining hurdles, particularly concerning coagulation dysregulation and immune complications.

Experts in the field have lauded this event as a