I asked Google #1 19/11/2025: immortal human cancer cells

 

 

 A still from the film Alien: Resurrection

immortal human cancer cells

"Immortal" human cancer cells are

cell lines that can proliferate indefinitely in a laboratory setting (in vitro). The most famous example is the HeLa cell line, derived from the cervical tumor of Henrietta Lacks in 1951. 

Key Characteristics and Significance

• Unlimited Division (Immortality in vitro): Unlike normal human cells, which can only divide a limited number of times before undergoing senescence (aging) and death (known as the Hayfflick limit), these cancer cells bypass this natural limitation.

• Telomerase Activation: The primary mechanism by which cancer cells achieve this "immortality" is by activating the enzyme telomerase. Telomerase rebuilds the telomeres—protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that typically shorten with each division. By maintaining telomere length, the cells avoid the signal to stop dividing.

• Genetic and Chromosomal Abnormalities: Immortal cell lines are often genetically unstable, containing numerous mutations and an abnormal number of chromosomes (aneuploidy). This genetic disarray allows for uncontrolled growth but also means they are fundamentally altered from normal human cells.

• Research Tools: These cell lines are invaluable for biomedical research because they provide a consistent, high-volume source of human cells for study. They have been crucial for:

  • Developing vaccines, including the polio and COVID-19 vaccines.

  • Cancer research and drug development.

  • Studying viruses, genetics, and the effects of radiation and toxins.

  • Research on the effects of zero gravity in space. 

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Context of "Immortality"

It is important to understand that "immortal" in this context refers to their behavior in a controlled lab environment, not within a living human body. The human immune system usually recognizes and destroys cancerous cells. 

The story of the HeLa cells also raised significant ethical discussions regarding patient rights and informed consent, as the cells were taken and used without Henrietta Lacks's knowledge or permission at the time. 

Sources

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HeLa

2. https://www.cytion.com/Knowledge-Hub/Blog/What-are-Immortal-Cell-Lines/

3. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/henrietta-lacks/importance-of-hela-cells

4. https://theconversation.com/how-cancer-cells-can-become-immortal-research-finds-a-mutated-gene-that-helps-melanoma-defeat-the-normal-limits-on-repeated-replication-194234

5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henrietta_Lacks

6. https://www.biotechniques.com/cell-and-tissue-biology/on-the-quest-to-immortality-how-close-can-humans-get/

7. https://www.britannica.com/science/HeLa-cell

8. https://www.jax.org/news-and-insights/2018/june/how-do-cancer-cells-achieve-immortality

9. https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/what-is-cancer/body-systems-and-cancer/the-immune-system-and-cancer

10. https://www.merckgroup.com/en/stories/immuno-oncology-breakthroughs.html#:~:text=%E2%80%9COur%20immune%20system%20has%20the%20capacity%20to,Helming%20discuss%20how%20immuno-oncology%20can%20save%20lives.

Is it possible to clone a human from immortal human cancer cells?

No, it is not possible

to clone a viable human from "immortal" human cancer cells. 

The primary reasons are the severe genetic and cellular defects inherent in cancer cells that make normal development impossible.

Reasons Why Cloning from Cancer Cells is Impossible

• Massive Genetic and Chromosomal Abnormalities: Cancer cells are highly mutated and genetically unstable. For example, HeLa cells, the most famous immortal human cell line, have 76 to 80 chromosomes, compared to the normal human count of 46. These translocations, deletions, and abnormal chromosome numbers prevent the orderly genetic "reprogramming" necessary to create a healthy, developing embryo.

• Loss of Growth Control: The defining characteristic of cancer cells is their lack of normal growth control. A developing fetus requires precise regulation of cell division and programmed cell death (apoptosis) to form proper tissues and organs. A nucleus from a cancer cell would lack this crucial control, resulting in an undifferentiated, disorganized mass of cells (a tumor) rather than a functional organism.

• Reprogramming Failure: The process of cloning, typically using Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT), involves placing the donor cell's nucleus into an enucleated egg cell, which then reprograms the DNA to act like a totipotent (capable of developing into any cell type) embryonic cell. The extensive damage and epigenetic alterations in cancer cell nuclei make this vital reprogramming process fail.

• High Risk of Developmental Failure: Even if an embryo began to form, the high rate of defects would lead to early developmental arrest, miscarriage, or the birth of a severely deformed and non-viable individual. This is true even for cloning using normal somatic cells, which has a very low success rate and high health risks in animals. 

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In summary, the very properties that make cancer cells "immortal" in a lab dish—uncontrolled growth and genetic chaos—are the same properties that make them unsuitable for the creation of a complex, healthy, living human being.

Sources

1. https://www.quora.com/Could-it-be-possible-to-clone-humans-with-HeLa-cells

2. https://www.quora.com/Is-it-possible-to-use-cancer-cells-such-as-HeLa-and-recreate-a-clone-of-the-person-that-was-the-source-in-this-example-a-clone-of-Henrietta-Lacks

3. https://www.news-medical.net/life-sciences/Cloning-Human-Cells.aspx

4. https://www.thoughtco.com/hela-cells-4160415

5. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4517218/