[Corrigendum] Antitumor effects of IDN5109 on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Cell Biology
• Genetics

Background:

• Previous research investigated IDN5109's potential to inhibit head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) growth.
• Post-publication, concerns arose regarding the accuracy of cell lines used in the original study.
• Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) analysis indicated potential discrepancies in cell line origins.

Purpose of the Study:

• To re-evaluate the antitumor effects of IDN5109 on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).
• To verify the identity and purity of cell lines, specifically YCU-H891 and KCC-MS871, previously used in HNSCC research.
• To address concerns about potential cross-contamination affecting experimental results.

Main Methods:

• Short tandem repeat (STR) analysis was performed on 16 established cell lines.
• Genotyping was conducted to compare cell lines against known standards, including HeLa.
• Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing was used to assess cell line origins.

Main Results:

• STR analysis revealed that YCU-H891, KCC-MS871, and KCC-TCM901 share an identical genotype with HeLa cells.
• The cell line YCU-T891 showed identical genotype to YCU-L891, suggesting cross-contamination.
• These findings indicate that the cell lines used were not authentic HNSCC cell lines as initially believed.

Conclusions:

• The relevance of the original study's findings on IDN5109 inhibition of HNSCC growth is now uncertain due to cell line misidentification.
• The study highlights the critical importance of rigorous cell line authentication in cancer research.
• Future studies investigating IDN5109 or HNSCC should utilize properly validated cell lines to ensure reliable results.