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the greatest medical breakthroughs of the last 100 years. ABC reminds us that these immortal cells, trillions upon trillions of them, were first used in research that led to the polio vaccine; they helped in the development of medicines to fight cancer, influenza and Parkinson's disease and in the research that led to gene mapping and cloning. They were also used to test the effects of atomic radiation and were sent into outer space. "I think we owe a lot of gratitude for what Henrietta provided,” Racaniello said. "There's absolutely no doubt about that.” On 5 February 2010, Popular Science Online declared Henrietta Lacks to be "the Most Important Woman in Medical History”. the body and cause no harm. In those days, doctors _ the greatest medical breakthroughs of the last 100 years. didn't much believe in cancer-causing viruses. ABC reminds us that these immortal cells, trillions upon Nowadays, no researcher would dare try injecting cancer _ trillions of them, were first used in research that led to cells into a human being. But in the 1950s, Salk had _ the polio vaccine; they helped in the development of done it accidentally. He had injected cancerous HeLa _— medicines to fight cancer, influenza and Parkinson's cells into a few dozen patients and it hadn't bothered disease and in the research that led to gene mapping ima bit. and cloning. They were also used to test the effects of Nelson-Rees and his co-authors, in the paper "Henrietta atomic radiation and were sent into outer space. "I Lacks, HeLa Cells, and Cell Culture Contamination" think we owe a lot of gratitude for what Henrietta (Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, September 2009), provided," Racaniello said. "There's absolutely no concluded: "Despite the passing of nearly 50 years since doubt about that.” he problem first surfaced of HeLa cell contamination of On 5 February 2010, Popular Science Online declared issue cultures and despite the explosive advances in __ Henrietta Lacks to be "the Most Important Woman in molecular biology, cell culture contamination remains an edical History”. important issue for the scientific community. The problem extends far beyond HeLa cells, Cancer-causing monkey viruses and although they remain a culprit. In one the polio vaccine study, 45 of 252 human cell lines (18%) Scientists tell us that HIV is the firs supplied by 27 of 93 originators (29%) The rarely monkey virus to "jump species", were contaminated... Fortunately, there — causing the pandemic of AIDS. The was recently a call to action on publicised truth rarely publicised truth is that a preventing contaminated cell lines." is that a cancer- cancer-causing monkey virus jumped Wikipedia currently provides a long . species into man more than a half- "List of contaminated cell lines”. causing monkey century ago when contaminated polio virus jumped vaccines were given to millions o Continuing cell line contamination in we people in the 1950s, including half the the 2Ist century species Into man US population of that era. On 15 January 2010, BBC News _ In the early 1960s, it was discovered reported that cell contamination is more than a half that some lots of polio vaccines still a problem in cancer research century ago when manufactured on rhesus monkey and that dozens of cancer studies ° idney tissue during the period may be thrown into doubt by the contaminated 955 to 1963 were contaminated discovery that researchers have polio vaccines with a monkey virus called inadvertently used the wrong Q Simian virus 40 (SV40). This were given to millions of people in the 1950s... ype of cancer cells. The cell primate virus was quickly proved ines, according to a paper in the © cause various cancers in ournal of the National Cancer Institute experimental animals. However, (epub 14 January 2010), were o this day, government health supplied as samples_ of officials still insist there is no oesophageal cancer. However, absolute proof that SV40 causes ests show that they contained cancer in humans. other types of tumour, including Despite the denial, genetic and ung and bowel. The paper's immunologic studies by authors, from the University Medical Centre in independent researchers over the past decade indicate Rotterdam, noted that this could put major trials of that SV40 is clearly associated with certain cancers, such drugs in doubt. They wrote: "Experimental results as rapidly fatal cancers of the lung (mesothelioma), based on these contaminated cell lines have led to bone marrow cancer (multiple myeloma) and brain ongoing clinical trials recruiting patients, to more than tumours in children. 00 scientific publications, and to at least three cancer According to a Washington Times report (21 September research grants and 11 US patents—which emphasises 2003): _ "Some of the polio vaccine given to millions of he importance of our findings." Widespread use of | American children from 1962 until 2000 could have been hese cell lines could threaten the development of new contaminated with a monkey virus that shows up in reatments, they said. some cancers, according to documents and testimony On 31 January 2010, ABC News (USA) issued a glowing __ to be delivered to a House committee [on] Wednesday. report on "How one woman's cells changed medicine". The vaccine manufacturer said such claims ‘don't have Microbiology professor Vincent Racaniello of Columbia —_ any validity’, and the Centers for Disease Control and University claimed that HeLa cells have led to some of Prevention (CDC) agrees.” The rarely publicised truth is that a cancer- causing monkey virus jumped species into man century ago when contaminated were given to millions of people in the 1950s... APRIL - MAY 2010 NEXUS ¢ 27 more than a half- polio vaccines www.nexusmagazine.com