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Student Worksheet: Apoptosis, cancer and stem cell Ethics
Read the following article and answer the questions that follow:
When Apoptosis Fails: HeLa cells
Cancer is a disease where abnormal cells in the body divide and grow uncontrollably,
often caused by mutations in the DNA. Mutations could trigger the acceleration of cell
division rates, inhibiting the normal control of systems, including stopping the cell cycle
or apoptosis. In cancer old cells do not die; rather they grow out of control and form
new abnormal cells. When these abnormal cells accumulate, they form a mass of tissue
known as a tumour. Cancer cells are frequently called immortal. Normal cells divide
about 50 times and then die, cancer cells can go on dividing indefinitely if supplied with
their requirements.
In 1951, a young mother of five named Henrietta Lacks visited The Johns Hopkins
Hospital complaining of vaginal bleeding. Upon examination, renowned gynaecologist Dr.
Howard Jones discovered a large, malignant tumor on her cervix. At the time, The
Johns Hopkins Hospital was one of only a few hospitals to treat poor AfricanAmericans.
As medical records show, Mrs. Lacks began undergoing radium treatments for her
cervical cancer. This was the best medical treatment available at the time for this
terrible disease. A sample of her cancer cells retrieved during a biopsy were sent to
Dr. George Gey's nearby tissue lab. For years, Dr. Gey, a prominent cancer and virus
researcher, had been collecting cells from all patients - regardless of their race or
socioeconomic status - who came to The Johns Hopkins Hospital with cervical cancer,
but each sample quickly died in Dr. Gey’s lab. What Dr. Gey would soon discover was
that Mrs. Lacks’ cells were unlike any of the others he had ever seen: where other cells
would die, Mrs. Lacks' cells doubled every 20 to 24 hours.
Today, these incredible cells — nicknamed "HeLa" cells, from the first two letters of
her first and last names — are used to study the effects of toxins, drugs, hormones
and viruses on the growth of cancer cells without experimenting on humans. They have
been used to test the effects of radiation and poisons, to study the human genome, to
learn more about how viruses work, and played a crucial role in the development of the
polio and COVID-19 vaccines.
Although Mrs. Lacks ultimately passed away on October 4, 1951, at the age of 31, her
cells continue to impact the world.
Although these were the first cells that could be easily shared and multiplied in a lab
setting, Johns Hopkins has never sold or profited from the discovery or distribution of
HeLa cells and does not own the rights to the HeLa cell line. Rather, Johns Hopkins
offered HeLa cells freely and widely for scientific research.
Johns Hopkins applauds and regularly participates in efforts to raise awareness of the
life and story of Henrietta Lacks. Having reviewed our interactions with Henrietta
Lacks and with the Lacks family over more than 50 years, we found that Johns Hopkins
could have – and should have – done more to inform and work with members of
Henrietta Lacks’ family out of respect for them, their privacy and their personal
interests. Though the collection and use of Henrietta Lacks’ cells in research was an
acceptable and legal practice in the 1950s, such a practice would not happen today
without the patient’s consent.
The National Institute of Health in the US analysed and evaluated the scientific
literature involving HeLa cells and found over 110,000 publications that cited the use of
HeLa cells between 1953 and 2018.
Although many other cell lines are available and in use today, HeLa cells have supported
advances in most fields of medical research in the years since HeLa cells were isolated.
Question 1
Discuss some of the potential benefits of using HeLa cells in medical research.
Question 2
The HeLa story provides many bio-ethical dilemmas for researchers. Discuss the
ethical issues that may arise from the use of HeLa cells for research.
Question 3
Johns Hopkins has never sold or profited from the discovery or distribution of HeLa
cells and does not own the rights to the HeLa cell line. Does this information change
your view about the use of HeLa cells ? Justify your response.
Cancer is caused by mutations either in the proto-oncogenes or Tumour suppressor
genes. Research what cancer is and how it is caused and answer the following questions.
Question 4
Explain the function of proto-oncogenes.
Question 5
Explain the function of tumour-suppressor genes.
In 2013, Johns Hopkins worked with members of the family and the National Institutes
of Health (NIH) to help broker an agreement that requires scientists to receive
permission to use Henrietta Lacks’ genetic blueprint, or to use HeLa cells in NIH
funded research. The committee tasked with deciding who can use HeLa cells now
includes two members of the Lacks family.
Question 5
Discuss why it is important for researchers to receive permission to use HeLa cells for
future research processes.