Scientists create immortal human cells to understand how cancer works

Immortality isn’t something to be desired when it comes to your body’s cells. Those that continue to divide without ever dying can lead to the development of the most malignant kinds of tumors.

Until now, the science behind cell immortality has been relatively unknown, despite its significance to cancer. But the Cell Cycle journal recently reported that researchers at the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have developed a new way to create and study immortal human mammary epithelial cells.

Unlike those extracted from tumor tissues, these new immortal cells have normal genomes. Studying them could provide greater insight into how cell immortalization occurs.

Berkeley Lab scientist Martha Stampfer said it could also lead to treatment techniques.

“We can also begin to think about ways to target this process therapeutically in order to prevent or reverse cancer progression.”