Misidentification of SMMC-7721 undermines its use as a hepatocellular carcinoma model.

Authors

Ralf Weiskirchen

Published in

Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology. Sep 01, 2026. Epub Sep 01, 2026.

Abstract

SMMC-7721 has long been used as a presumed human hepatocellular carcinoma model, but authentication studies have shown that it is HeLa-derived rather than a genuine liver cancer cell line. This short communication discusses the consequences of using SMMC-7721 as an HCC model in a recent study on quercetin-induced immunogenic cell death and cGAS-STING pathway activation in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Because data generated in SMMC-7721 reflect a HeLa-derived cellular background, conclusions regarding anti-HCC activity, liver-cancer-specific mechanisms, compound selectivity, and therapeutic relevance require qualification or reassessment in authenticated hepatocellular carcinoma models. The commentary emphasizes the importance of cell-line authentication, appropriate model selection, and transparent reporting to ensure reliability and reproducibility in preclinical liver cancer research.

PMID:
42678552
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 02 Sep 2026.

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