From HeLa, and its multiple identities, to MDA-MB-435, erroneously and widely used as breast cancer cells, the history of cancer cell lines is rich in misidentification and cross-contamination events. Despite the fact that these problems were regularly signaled during the last decades, many actors of research still seem to ignore them. A never-ending story? Solutions exist, notably based on recent technical advances in cell line authentication (short tandem repeat analysis). However, a collaborative action involving users of cell lines, cell banks, journals and funding agencies is needed to achieve success.
False cell lines mentioned
| Chang Liver | Liver cells | HeLa cells (glandular cancer of the cervix) |
|---|---|---|
| Girardi Heart | Atrial myoblast cells | HeLa cells |
| Hep-2 (or Hep2) | Larynx carcinoma cells | HeLa cells |
| INT407 (or INT-407, or Intestine 407) | Embryonic intestine cells | HeLa cells |
| J111 | Monocytic leukemia cells | HeLa cells |
| KB | Oral epidermoid carcinoma cells | HeLa cells |
| L132 | Embryonic lung epithelium cells | HeLa cells |
| MT-1 (or MT1) | Breast cancer cells | HeLa cells |
| NCTC2544 | Skin epithelium cells (keratinocytes) | HeLa cells |
| WISH | Amnion cells | HeLa cells |
| Wong-Kilbourne | Conjunctiva-derived cells | HeLa cells |
| RPMI-8402 (or RPMI8402) | T cell leukemia | Unknown |
| IM-9 (or IM9) | Multiple myeloma cells | Epstein-Barr virus-transfected B cell lymphoblastoid line |
| HBL-100 (or HBL100) | Breast transformed but non-tumorigenic cells | Unknown, and not female (found to contain Y chromosome) |
| TSU-Pr1 (or TSUPr1) | Prostate cancer cells | T24 cells (bladder cancer) |
| ECV-304 (or ECV304) | “Spontaneously transformed” umbilical cord endothelial cells | T24 cells |
| EJ138 | Bladder cancer cells | T24 cells |
| EJ-1 (or EJ1) | Bladder cancer cells | T24 cells |
| PPC-1 (or PPC1) | Prostate cancer cells | PC-3 cells (prostate cancer) |
| ALVA-31 (or ALVA31) | Prostate cancer cells | PC-3 cells |
| ALVA-41 (or ALVA41) | Prostate cancer cells | PC-3 cells |
| SK-N-MC | Neuroblastoma cells | Ewing family tumor cells |
| DAMI | Megakaryocyte | HEL cells (erythroleukemia) |
| HS-Sultan | Plasma cell line (multiple myeloma) | Jijoye cells (Burkitt's lymphoma) |
| ARH-77 (or ARH77) | Plasma cells from a multiple myeloma patient | Epstein-Barr virus-transfected B cell lymphoblastoid line |
| WiDr | Colon cancer cells | HT-29 cells (colon carcinoma) |
| SNB-19 (or SNB19) | Glioblastoma cells | U-373MG cells (glioblastoma) |
| U251 | Glioblastoma cells | U-373MG cells |
| MCF-7ADR (re-designated NCI/ADR-RES) | Breast cancer cells | OVCAR-8 cells (ovarian cancer) |
| MDA-MB-435 (or MDA-MB-435S, or MDA-MB435, or MDA-435) | Breast cancer cells | M14 cells (melanoma) |
