How to Cite
Abstract
Introduction: Cryopreservation of hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) is an essential practice in both autologous and allogeneic transplant programs. However, a significant proportion of the collected units remain stored unused or are ultimately discarded, posing ethical, logistical, and economic challenges. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at a public pediatric center in Argentina, analyzing cryopreserved HPC units between November 2014 and November 2024. The relationship between stored, infused, and discarded units, distribution by type of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), reasons for discarding, and storage duration were described. Results: Over a 10-year period, 204 units corresponding to 80 patients were cryopreserved. Overall, 33% of the units were discarded. The highest percentage of discarded units was observed in unrelated allogeneic transplants (52%), followed by autologous transplants (19%) and related allogeneic transplants (14%). Discussion: In this 10-year retrospective series from a public pediatric transplant unit, approximately one-third of the cryopreserved units were discarded. Discarding was concentrated mainly in the unrelated transplant group, due to the practice of cryopreserving backup units that are ultimately not used. In autologous transplants, discarding was associated with disease progression or death, while the percentage of discarded units was low in related allogeneic transplants. Strategies for improvement include defining strict criteria for cryopreservation of backup units, establishing storage periods, and implementing disposal policies. Conclusion: These findings, consistent with international reports, reinforce the need to establish clear and standardized policies for the disposal of cryopreserved products in order to optimize resources and ensure traceability in the management of cell products. It is necessary to discuss the storage duration of unused hematopoietic progenitor cell units to reach a consensus on their ethical disposal.
References
McCullough J, Haley R, Clay M, Hubel A, Lindgren B, Moroff G. Long-term storage of peripheral blood stem cells frozen and stored with a conventional liquid nitrogen technique compared with cells frozen and stored in a mechanical freezer. Transfusion. 2010 Apr;50(4):808-19. doi: 10.1111/j.1537-2995.2009.02482. x. Epub 2009 Nov 13. Erratum in: Transfusion. 2010 Oct;50(10):2285. PMID: 19912586.
Detry G, Calvet L, Straetmans N, Cabrespine A, Ravoet C, Bay JO, Petre H, Paillard C, Husson B, Merlin E, Boon-Falleur L, Tournilhac O, Delannoy A, Halle P. Impact of uncontrolled freezing and long-term storage of peripheral blood stem cells at - 80 °C on haematopoietic recovery after autologous transplantation. Report from two centres. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2014 Jun;49(6):780-5. doi: 10.1038/bmt.2014.53. Epub 2014 Mar 31. PMID: 24686987.
SM Campos-Carli, OAM Filho, DMV Avelar, EM Fagundes, RL Guerino-Cunha, CMF Ribeiro, CRYOPRESERVATION OF HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELLS AT - 80C: HOW LONG IS IT SAFE? Abstract Hematology, Transfusion and Cell Therapy,Volume 46, Supplement 4,2024, Page S725,ISSN 2531-1379, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.htct.2024.09.1219
Pinar, I. E., Sahin, M., Gursoy, V., Ersal, T., Budak, F., Ozkocaman, V., & Ozkalemkas, F. (2025). Viable and Functional: Long-Term −80 °C Cryopreservation Sustains CD34+ Integrity and Transplant Success. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 14(19), 7032. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14197032
Rebecca Axelsson-Robertson , Thomas Poiret , Lyda M. Osorio , Michael Uhlin , Long-Term Cryopreservation of Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells: Functional Viability Beyond Two Decades, Cytotherapy (2025), doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcyt.2025.09.001
FACT-JACIE Standards for Hematopoietic Cellular Therapy Accreditation Manual Ninth Edition https://www.ebmt.org/sites/default/files/2025-10/STS.5.2.051_HCT_Manual_9th_Ed_R1.pdf
Holbro A, Baldomero H, Lanza F, et al Handling, processing and disposal of stem cell products in Europe: A survey by the cellular therapy and immunobiology working party of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Cytotherapy. 2018 Mar;20(3):453-460. doi: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2017.12.005.Epub 2018 Jan 17. PMID: 29352666
Kriegsmann K, Wack M, Pavel P, Schmitt A, Kriegsmann M, Bruckner T, Müller-Tidow C, Wuchter P. Collection, Cryostorage, Transplantation, and Disposal of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Products. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2019 Feb;25(2):382-390. doi: 10.1016/j.bbmt.2018.09.013. Epub 2018 Sep 20. PMID: 30244098
Devadas SK, Khairnar M, Hiregoudar SS, Ojha S, Punatar S, Gupta A, Gokarn A, Bhole P, Kannan S, Khattry N. Is long term storage of cryopreserved stem cells for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation a worthwhile exercise in developing countries? Blood Res. 2017 Dec;52(4):307-310. doi: 10.5045/br.2017.52.4.307. Epub 2017 Dec 26. PMID: 29333408; PMCID: PMC5762742.
MC Mendonça, FS Ghaname, TFN Araújo, ML Puls, MC Braga, NCN Lima, VRH Nunes, VS Freitas, EM Almeida, C Almeid-Neto, MOTIVOS DE DESCARTE DE CÉLULAS PROGENITORAS HEMATOPOIÉTICAS CRIOPRESERVADAS Abstract Hematology, Transfusion and Cell Therapy,Volume 45, Supplement 4,2023, Page S518,ISSN 2531 1379, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.htct.2023.09.954.
Basquiera, A. L., Tisi Baña, M. F., Ferini, G. A., Makiya, M. L., Burgos Pratx, L. D., Milovic, V., Jaimovich, G., García, J. J., Arbelbide, J. A., & Abichain, P. L. (2020). Recomendaciones para el descarte de productos de CPH/linfocitos criopreservados: consenso del Grupo Argentino de Trasplante de Médula Ósea (GATMO). Revista Hematología, 24(1), 54–58. Recuperado a partir de https://revistahematologia.com.ar/index.php/Revista/article/view/226
Perseghin P, Marchetti M, Pierelli L, Olivieri A, Introna M, Lombardini L, Accorsi P, Petrini C, Risso M, Bosi A; Società Italiana di Emaferesi e Manipolazione Cellulare,; Gruppo Italiano Trapianto Midollo Osseo; Centro Nazionale Trapianti. A policy for the disposal of autologous hematopoietic progenitor cells: report from an Italian consensus panel. Transfusion. 2014 Sep;54(9):2353-60. doi:10.1111/trf.12619. Epub 2014 Mar 24. PMID: 24654567.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2026 Marcela Varela, Sandra Formisano, Daniela Iglesias, Gisela Gonzalez, Gisela D'Angelo