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Henrietta Lacks (1920-1951)
circa 1945-1950, Wikimedia
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Henrietta Lacks is probably the best studied person by biomedical scientists,
yet among the least recognized.
A mother of 5, she was diagnosed with an unusually aggressive cervical
cancer in 1951. During her first surgery, her doctors took a biopsy without her
consent (patient approval was still a novel concept at that time). However, the
tissue was not sent for diagnostics, but to the clinic’s cell culture
specialist, who for 30 years had tried to isolate immortal cell lines for
research [1]. Unlike other cells, Henrietta Lacks’ cancer cells divided at a
higher rate and kept dividing multiple times without dying, becoming the first “immortal”
cell line. Henrietta Lacks died later that year, but her cells continue to
thrive to this day. The cell line was called HeLa in reference to the
involuntary donor.
HELA CELLS HAVE NOW BEEN ALIVE FOR 65 YEARS!
HeLa cells have become the cornerstone of modern biomedical research,
being the first to test a novel polio vaccine, develop cancer drugs, be cloned,
be chromosome mapped and even go to space![2] In a cruel irony for the family,
who were never officially informed nor compensated for their contribution to
research, HeLa cells were commercially exploited by companies which earned
billions, all while her family couldn't afford health insurance [3]. A book by
science writer Rebecca Skloot has finally brought public attention to the
family’s legacy. [4]
Nowadays, several initiatives, foundations and research institutes have
started to honor Henrietta Lacks with memorial lectures, talks and meetings. In
that sense, Henrietta has finally reached immortality beyond her cells.
by Bettina Schmerl, PhD Student AG Shoichet
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