Safety makes up the foundation of cancer research. In describing the clinical-trial phases, the American Cancer Society points out that during Phase I: “Safety is the main concern at this point.” That safety, however, addresses potential patients. Nonetheless, scientists and other lab personnel must also be kept safe at every point in developing a cancer drug. A biological safety cabinet (BSC) makes up one of the key lab tools for ensuring the safety of cancer scientists.
BSCs come in many sizes and forms. For an overview, watch the ABCs of BSCs. Then, to explore safety features and techniques, watch Putting the “Safety” in Biological Safety Cabinets. With this background, it’s easier to see the need for BSCs in cancer research.
In a lab that studies cancer research—from exploring the biological mechanisms to searching for new treatments—many techniques include potentially hazardous materials. In many cancer-related studies, scientists seek to modify the genome of a cell, which can be performed in various ways, including using lentivirus plasmids. According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health’s Lentiviral Containment Guidance: “BL2 [biosafety level 2] containment or enhanced BL2 containment is often appropriate in the laboratory setting for research involving the use of advanced lentivirus vector systems that have multiple safety features and that segregate vector and packaging functions onto four or more plasmids.”
So, when José Gabriel Barcia Durán of Weill Cornell Medicine (New York, NY) and his colleagues worked with hematopoietic stem cells, which can often be applied to cancer research, the list of lab equipment included a NuAire (Plymouth, MN) class 2 BSC. This research used plasmids, and Durán and his colleagues wrote: “Contact your local biosafety officer before working with lentiviral vectors, and follow all biosafety level 2 regulations, such as using personal protection equipment and properly disposing of waste.”
In most cancer research, scientists face more than one risk. As one example, Taylor R. Broda of the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Ohio and his colleagues studied gastric organoids, which could be used in the discovery and development of new cancer treatments. The scientists made these organoids from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). For such research, Broda and his colleagues noted: “When handling cells, take the necessary precautions. Commonly, use proper personal protective equipment (PPE) at biosafety level 2 (BSL-2) for tissue culture work, and perform the work within a class II biosafety cabinet.” For a BSC, Broda’s team used a class 2 BSC from NuAire.
It’s not just cell-related research that creates safety issues for scientists. Some of the required reagents can also be dangerous. Broda commented: “When handling reagents, take the necessary precautions. Commonly, use proper PPE at BSL-2 for tissue culture work and BSL-1 for non–tissue culture work.”
So in the quest to save lives, cancer scientists must also protect themselves. Ensuring safety for all lab personnel depends on the equipment in a lab, and how it’s used. Many of the daily tasks on the frontlines of the battle against cancer take place in a BSC. Make sure that the people in your lab know how to use and follow best practices every time—lives depend on it.