Cellular Immunotherapies: Critical Biopreservation Considerations

By Brian J. Hawkins, PhD and Alireza Abazari, MSc/PhD, BioLife Solutions, Inc.

Improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer have led to significant reductions in mortality. This is especially evident by the fact that childhood cancers once fatal in the 1950’s now achieve a survival rate approaching 90%. Despite this tremendous success, overall cancer mortality remains high, and more aggressive treatment regimens are often ineffective and toxic to patients. There is also the ever-present risk that even effective treatment is only temporary, and that the cancer may relapse. Novel technologies and therapies are needed in order to realize future declines in cancer mortality.