Raising Awareness About Compromised Cell Lines, Better Science Practices, and Accountability

Abstract

This comment raises concerns about the validity and reproducibility of a publication by Li et al. in Virus Genes (60:488–500, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11262-024-02096-1; PMID: 39103702), which aimed to investigate the role of aquaporin-3 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and its regulation by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1). The central criticism focuses on using the CNE-1, CNE-2, and HONE-1 cell lines, which are recognized as unreliable for NPC research. There is an alarming prevalence of publications that continue to utilize these compromised cell lines, impeding genuine advancements in understanding NPC. Beyond the cell line authenticity issue, the study lacks relevant methodological information and justification for experimental design choices. We emphasize the need for raw data availability and comprehensive methodological information to ensure reproducibility. Ultimately, this comment calls for a more rigorous and multi-faceted approach to quality control in scientific publishing and embracing Open Science principles to ensure the reliability of published research.