There is a Scientific Need for the Right Leukemia‐Lymphoma Cell Lines

Over the last decades, therehasbeenanexplosion inunderstanding of the biology, pathogenesis and treatment options for various types of tumors. Part of this progress was made possible through laboratory investigations using continuous cell lines. Due to their high relevance for human disease, easy manipulation, and relative low costs, leukemia-lymphoma (LL) cell lines (including here cell lines derived from multiple myeloma and related entities) continue to represent vital models for a large range of ongoing investigations. While their advantages and benefits as in vitro tools are undeniable, misidentification, contamination issues, and data over interpretation are limitations that afflict the use of LL cell lines. Furthermore, the stubbornly ineradicable myths of genetic instability of cell lines and the alleged acquisition of additional alterations in culture have contributed to almost ruin the once high reputation of LL cell lines and insinuated an unfavorable profile.