Author | Amanda Capes-Davis, ICLAC member
WSU-CLL is a cell line that was thought to be established from chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
In 2002, it was found that WSU-CLL is actually REH, a cell line from B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Citation in PubMed | Journal Website
That makes WSU-CLL a misidentified cell line: a cell line that no longer corresponds to its original donor.
How many publications use WSU-CLL incorrectly as a model for chronic lymphocytic leukemia? And what impact does that have?
ICLAC looked at these questions as part of a commentary, published in the journal Leukemia Research.
Citation in PubMed | Journal Website
We found 27 articles that used WSU-CLL. Twenty-four articles referred to WSU-CLL incorrectly, as chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Only three referred to WSU-CLL correctly, as acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
The citations from each article gave a clearer picture of the overall impact. Citations measure the number of times that scientists have relied on an article for their own work.
The 24 articles that referred to WSU-CLL incorrectly were cited by 848 publications. The three articles that referred to WSU-CLL correctly were cited by only 143 publications.
Does it matter?
Many of these references relate to developing treatments for chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
So yes – it matters. Clinical trials are based on studies that use cell lines. Any publications that use WSU-CLL will send later clinical trials off in the wrong directions.