The Ishikawa cells from birth to the present

More than 20 years have passed since the Ishikawa cell line, a well-differentiated human endometrial adenocarcinoma cell line, was established. Because this cell line bears estrogen and progesterone receptors, the cells have been used in numerous basic research areas such as reproductive biology and molecular science, and has been distributed to more than a hundred institutes. However, even the Ishikawa cells, after long-term culture, tend to transform into undifferentiated cells. In addition, it has been reported that estrogen and progesterone receptors disappeared from the cells that I distributed. I therefore attempted to establish well-differentiated cells from the parent Ishikawa cells and to produce a new and good quality supply of this cell line. I believe that it is very important for the investigator who established a cell line to be responsible for maintaining the quality of the cells. That is why I have not deposited this cell line in any cell bank. I would like to take this opportunity to report the history of Ishikawa cells from establishment to the present.