Options for imaging cellular therapeutics in vivo: a multi-stakeholder perspective

Area of Science:

• Regenerative Medicine
• Biotechnology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Cell-based therapies show promise but face challenges in late-phase clinical trials.
• Limited tools for safety evaluation have hindered market authorization for many cell therapies.
• Recent advancements in technology are beginning to support cell therapy development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and address the unmet needs of cell therapy developers in safety evaluations, particularly regarding in vivo tracking.
• To respond to the expressed interest in cellular imaging technologies among cell therapy developers.
• To inform stakeholders about areas where imaging can enhance the safe clinical use of cellular therapeutics.

Main Methods:

• A survey was conducted among attendees of the 2017 International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy conference.
• The survey focused on identifying gaps and needs in safety evaluations for cell therapies.
• This review synthesizes survey responses and discusses relevant imaging technologies.

Main Results:

• Key areas of interest for cell therapy developers include longitudinal cell tracking, imaging sensitivity, cell quantification, and assessing cell survival and differentiation.
• Safety concerns regarding the use of imaging agents in cell therapy protocols were also identified.
• The review highlights how current imaging technologies can meet these identified needs.

Conclusions:

• Understanding therapeutic cell fate through imaging is vital for assessing cell therapy efficacy and safety.
• Available imaging technologies can address unmet needs throughout the translational process.
• Sharing this information aims to strengthen the understanding and application of cellular therapeutics.