Cellular Cancer Immunotherapy Development and Manufacturing in the Clinic

The transfusion of naturally derived or modified cellular therapies, referred to as adoptive cell therapy (ACT), has demonstrated clinical efficacy in the treatment of hematologic malignancies and metastatic melanoma. In addition, cellular vaccination, such as dendritic cell–based cancer vaccines, continues to be actively explored. The manufacturing of these therapies presents a considerable challenge to expanding the use of ACT as a viable treatment modality, particularly at academic production facilities. Furthermore, the expanding commercial interest in ACT presents new opportunities as well as strategic challenges for the future vision of cellular manufacturing in academic centers. Current trends in the production of ACT at tertiary care centers and prospects for improved manufacturing practices that will foster further clinical benefit are reviewed herein.