Few folks know the name of Henrietta Lacks, an African American woman in the United States who became an unlikely (and non-consenting) hero of medical research, including the fight against an infection that killed her. Since it’s Black History Month, we’re going to chat about Henrietta Lacks, who ended up making a profound contribution to sexual health research (and beyond).
In 1951, Henrietta Lacks, a 31-year-old mother of five, was diagnosed with cervical cancer at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. It was the only local hospital that treated Black people, at a time of racial segregation.
During a biopsy, cells from her tumour were taken without her consent for research purposes. This was a common practice at the time, and Henrietta’s cells were the first to successfully replicate outside the human body indefinitely.
Henrietta’s cervical cancer was terminal, in an era with limited preventative measures. She was dead within a year, but her immortal cancer cells lived on.
These HeLa cells, named after the first two letters of Henrietta’s first and last names, became invaluable for researchers. Unlike other cells, HeLa cells multiplied rapidly and could be easily cultured, providing scientists with reliable human cells for experimentation. They were instrumental in the development of the polio vaccine, cancer research, genetics, and more.
Despite the monumental contributions of HeLa cells to science, the story behind them raises important ethical questions. Henrietta Lacks never provided informed consent for the use of her cells, nor did she or her family receive any compensation for their widespread use. Many companies profited handsomely off these immortal cells, even though for decades, Henrietta’s identity remained unknown to the public, and her family was unaware of the impact she had on medical research.
Efforts have been made to acknowledge Henrietta Lacks’s contribution to science and to address the ethical issues surrounding the use of her cells. The Henrietta Lacks Foundation, established in 2010, honours her legacy by providing support to individuals and families who have made significant contributions to scientific research without their consent.
The case of Henrietta Lacks and HeLa cells serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of informed consent, patient autonomy, and ethical considerations in medical research. While the scientific community has benefited greatly from the discovery of HeLa cells, such advancements must be achieved with integrity and respect for the individuals whose tissues are used.
Henrietta Lacks’s story reminds us that behind every scientific breakthrough is a real person.
Researchers eventually discovered that Henrietta experienced a type of HPV (human papilloma virus) which causes many forms of cancer (HPV-18). In fact, HPV-16 and HPV-18 cause most forms of cervical cancer, and is thought to cause oral, penile, and anal cancers. All HPV vaccines target these types.
Ironically, the HeLa cells contributed to the development of HPV vaccines. HPV can be passed by anyone regardless of what they were assigned at birth. Researchers have been conservative on the impact of vaccines on cervical cancer, but in a recent study, such as this one from Scotland, there were no cases of cervical cancer since vaccination began in 2008.
Sadly, even today in the United States, Black women are more likely to develop cervical cancer, and are more likely to die from it, likely due to social and economic factors, especially in a country where financial resources promise better access to health care. While Canadians may think it’s not an issue here, historically Black women are under screened for this type of cancer, potentially due to barriers to access, fear and discomfort related to inadequate representation among healthcare providers, or a lack of culturally appropriate models of care.
Henrietta Lacks will never know how profound her impact was on the future of medical care, including for cervical cancer.