HeLa: Immortal cell and its milestone for modern medicine

Abstract

Born in the early twentieth century, Henrietta Lacks, a black woman, played a key role in the advancement of medical science. During the 1920s and 1950s in the United States, Lacks developed an aggressive form of cervical cancer. During Lacks' treatment, a small sample of cancer cells was taken from his body without his consent or knowledge. These cells would become notoriously known as "HeLa cells." But what makes these cells so special is that unlike ordinary human cells, HeLa cells were extraordinarily immortal and could be grown indefinitely in the lab. This has allowed scientists to do in-depth research and advance in a variety of medical areas, including vaccines, gene therapy, and oncology.

The accelerated growth rate of HeLa cells and their unlimited division capacity enable rapid and efficient development of tissues and cellular organs. In addition, the cultivation of these cells is relatively simple and inexpensive, which contributes to their wide use. The free distribution of the HeLa strain by the laboratory responsible for its initial cultivation has allowed important advances in several areas of medicine in the last 70 years. Objective: To address the scientific revolution through the HeLa cell.  Method: This is a systematic review of the literature. It was prepared from a bibliographic survey, covering national scientific articles and books, in the last ten years. The bases used were SciELO, Google Scholar and the book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by author Rebecca Skloot.  Discussion: Thus, one can correlate the advancement of genetic knowledge in the last 70 years through the unethical extraction of the biopsy in Henrietta and the research carried out later by the couple George and Margaret Grey. Conclusion: This study confirms that the discovery of the HeLa cell was an unsurpassed milestone in the advancement of medicine and that through it it was necessary to create a rigid and clear protocol, which addresses laws through ethical and moral conduct in clinical trials, research and in the doctor-patient relationship.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.56238/sevened2023.007-004