ICLAC Register Version 14: A Continuing Legacy of the International Journal of Cancer

Dear Editor,

1.

Sixteen years ago, the International Journal of Cancer published the article “Check your cultures! A list of cross‐contaminated or misidentified cell lines,” which provided the first comprehensive overview of cell line misidentification and cross‐contamination in biomedical research [1]. The publication compiled the first curated list of known cross‐contaminated or misidentified cell lines, comprising 360 entries, and provided researchers with a practical resource to verify the identity of experimental models used in cell culture studies [1].

Cell lines represent indispensable model systems for studying biological processes and human disease, particularly cancer, because they can proliferate indefinitely and are readily accessible experimental tools [2]. However, contamination or misidentification can result in a foreign cell line replacing the intended culture without the researcher's knowledge, sometimes early during cell line establishment or handling [3]. As a consequence, experimental results may be generated using an incorrect biological model, leading to misleading conclusions and potentially invalid publications. Despite increased awareness and improved authentication methods, cell line misidentification remains a persistent challenge in biomedical research. Studies based on misidentified cell lines can result in incorrect scientific conclusions, the dissemination of flawed data in the literature, and significant financial and time losses for research groups and funding agencies. The continued identification of problematic cell lines underscores the importance of routine authentication and transparent reporting practices.

The original article published in the International Journal of Cancer laid the foundation for what later became the ICLAC Register of Misidentified Cell Lines, curated by the International Cell Line Authentication Committee (ICLAC) [4]. Since its introduction, the Register has evolved into a widely used community resource that catalogs cell lines reported to be cross‐contaminated or misidentified, together with supporting references and authentication data.

The ICLAC recently announced the release of version 14 of the ICLAC Register of Misidentified Cell Lines on 15 February 2026 [4]. The Register currently contains 608 cell lines. An effort has been made to exclude cell lines that legitimately originate from the same donor, for example where one cell line was intentionally derived from another. Of the listed entries, 560 cell lines are misidentified with no known authentic stock. A further 48 cell lines are listed for which an authentic stock exists [4]. The continued expansion of the Register illustrates both the persistence of the cell line misidentification problem and the value of community‐driven authentication efforts. As shown in Figure 1, the ICLAC Register supports researchers, journals, and funding agencies in implementing best practices for cell line authentication and quality control.

FIGURE 1.

Conceptual overview of the impact of the ICLAC Register of Misidentified Cell Lines. (A) The initiative originated with the publication of the landmark article “Check your cultures!” in the International Journal of Cancer (2010), which highlighted the widespread problem of cell line misidentification. (B) Since then, the ICLAC Register has evolved into a curated global resource that documents cross‐contaminated and misidentified cell lines. (C) By helping researchers identify problematic cell lines and encouraging authentication practices, the Register contributes to improved reproducibility, research integrity, and reliability in biomedical research. [Color figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]

Importantly, the initiative that led to the development of the ICLAC Register originated in the International Journal of Cancer. The publication of the 2010 article not only raised broad awareness of the issue but also established the foundation for an international effort that continues to improve the reliability and transparency of biomedical research. The International Journal of Cancer is therefore to be commended for publishing this seminal contribution by Capes‐Davis et al., which has had a lasting impact on research integrity and cell line authentication practices worldwide.

Author Contributions

Ralf Weiskirchen: conceptualization, writing – original draft, writing – review and editing, resources.

Conflicts of Interest

The author declares membership in the ICLAC, which curates the Register of Misidentified Cell Lines discussed in this article. The author declares no other conflicts of interest.