Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35758134›Full record

ArticleThe EMBO journal2022

Cell line authentication: a necessity for reproducible biomedical research.

Nicole Y Souren, Norbert E Fusenig, Stefanie Heck, Wilhelm G Dirks, Amanda Capes-Davis, Franca Bianchini, Christoph Plass

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The EMBO journal, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 44 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
44citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

44 citing papers in PubMed.

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  9. Cell line authentication: a commercial service provider perspective.Frontiers in cell and developmental biology · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Nicole Y SourenInternational Journal of Cancer, Heidelberg, Germany.ORCID 0000-0001-7487-9837
Norbert E FusenigInternational Journal of Cancer, Heidelberg, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-8834-6502
Stefanie HeckInternational Journal of Cancer, Heidelberg, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-5366-6477
Wilhelm G DirksLeibniz-Institute DSMZ - Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen, Braunschweig, Germany.ORCID 0000-0001-9781-0998
Amanda Capes-DavisCellBank Australia, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-4184-6339
Franca BianchiniInternational Journal of Cancer, Heidelberg, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-9043-5352
Christoph PlassInternational Journal of Cancer, Heidelberg, Germany.ORCID 0000-0003-2554-3952

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Immortalized or continuous cell lines are invaluable tools in basic and preclinical research. However, the widespread use of misidentified cell lines is a serious threat to scientific reproducibility. Based on the experiences of mandatory cell line authentication at the International Journal of Cancer (IJC), we provide an overview of the issues pertinent to misidentified cell lines and discuss available solutions. We also summarize the lessons learned, revealing that at least 5% of the human cell lines used in manuscripts considered for peer review are misidentified. About 4% of the considered manuscripts are rejected for severe cell line problems, and most are subsequently published in other journals. In order to diminish such malpractice and its consequences for the scientific record, we postulate that strict multi-layered quality control is essential. Besides journals and publishers, we encourage scientists, research institutions, and funders to take action on the matter and revise their respective policies. Hence, we provide concrete recommendations on introducing regular authentication schemes and staff training, and discuss future steps for enhancing good cell culture practices.

Indexed as

Biomedical ResearchCell Line AuthenticationCell Culture TechniquesCell LineHumansReproducibility of ResultsCell line cross-contaminationgood scientific practiceInternational Journal of Cancermisidentified cell linesresearch integrity

Identifiers

PMID35758134
PMCPMC9289526

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.