But as we discuss this vital health innovation, it’s equally important to acknowledge the history that made some of these advancements possible, including the legacy of Henrietta Lacks, which is woven into the fabric of modern medicine.

Henrietta Lacks: A Story of Science and Ethics

While we celebrate the progress vaccines like the HPV vaccine represent, it’s crucial to reflect on how such advancements often have a human cost. Henrietta Lacks’ story is a poignant example of this.

Henrietta Lacks, born Lorretta Pleasant, was born in 1920 in Virginia. She moved with her husband to Baltimore Country in 1941. After the birth of her fifth child in early 1951, she noticed unusual vaginal bleeding and pain. She went to John Hopkins hospital, the only hospital in the area that treated black patients at the time, where a physician noticed a mass on her cervix. A biopsy confirmed that the mass was cancerous. She was treated with radiation, the best treatment at the time, but sadly passed away in October 1951.

During her diagnosis and treatment, doctors took a sample of her tumor without her knowledge or consent. These cancer cells were sent to the lab of Dr. George Gey, a prominent cancer and virus researcher at the time. He found that unlike other cells that died quickly in lab conditions, Henrietta’s cells were unique: they kept dividing and thriving outside her body - doubling every 20-24 hours. These cells, later named HeLa cells, became the first immortal human cell line, revolutionizing medical research.

The cells have been used to study the effects of toxins, drugs, hormones and viruses on the growth of cancer cells without experimenting on humans. They have been used to test the effects of radiation and poisons, to study the human genome, to study the effects of zero gravity in space, to learn more about how viruses work and played a crucial role in the development of vaccines. For example, Jonas Salk used the cells in the development of the Polio vaccine. The cells were even used in the development of the recent Covid-19 vaccine. 

After Henrietta`s death in 1951, her family struggled financially and emotionally, unaware for decades that her cells had been taken and were being used for scientific breakthroughs. 

Johns Hopkins has the following statement on their website about Henrietta Lacks:

"Having reviewed our interactions with Henrietta Lacks and with the Lacks family over more than 50 years, we found that Johns Hopkins could have – and should have – done more to inform and work with members of Henrietta Lacks’ family out of respect for them, their privacy and their personal interests. Though the collection and use of Henrietta Lacks' cells in research was an acceptable and legal practice in the 1950s, the laws protecting research subjects have (since) evolved."

While Johns Hopkins states that they never sold or profited from the discovery or distribution of HeLa cells, biotechnology companies definitely did. None of the biotechnology or other companies that profited from her cells gave any money back to her family, a fact which ultimately led to a lawsuit against Thermo Fischer Scientific, which was settled out of court in 2021 for an undisclosed amount. And, for decades after her death, doctors and scientists never asked her family for consent as they revealed Lacks’s name publicly, gave her medical records to the media, and even published her cells’ genome online.

The family learned about the later through conversations with Rebecca Skloot when she was writing her book, "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks". They were unhappy to learn that their matriachs health information was being published for the world to see. Henrietta’s granddaughter Jeri Lacks-Whye said,

“I look at it as though these are my grandmother’s medical records that are just out there for the world to see".

In 2013, the family agreed to the release of the genomic data with the National Institutes of Health, after they were finally explained how and for what the information would be used.

Learning from History

Henrietta Lacks’ story forces us to confront uncomfortable truths about medical ethics, particularly when it comes to women and women of color. Her story reminds us of the importance of informed consent, equitable treatment, and honoring the contributions of individuals who make scientific progress possible. In 2020, the World Health Organization acknowledged Henrietta Lacks posthumously, emphasizing the ethical lessons her story teaches us.

Moving Forward

By choosing to get vaccinated, you’re not only protecting your health but also contributing to a legacy of progress in medical science. The HPV vaccine is recommended for everyone from 11 years of age, regardless of gender, ideally before they become sexually active, as it’s most effective when administered before any exposure to the virus.

Since HPV-related diseases are more common in women than in men (however there is also a causal link between HPV and other forms of cancer, some of which affect men), routine vaccination is recommended for girls and is technically an optional vaccination for boys. However, as men can unknowingly spread HPV to their female partners, by getting vaccinated they not only protect themselves but also help protect the women in their lives from HPV-related cancers and health issues.

In the canton of Zuerich, there is a vaccination program which provides the HPV vaccine free of charge for anyone under the age of 27, making it accessible to young people who can benefit most from its protective effects. For those who might hesitate, it’s worth noting that the vaccine has been extensively studied and shown to be both safe and effective.

Let’s use Women’s Month as an opportunity to celebrate the role that women have played in scientific achievements—both recognized and unsung—and commit to ensuring that future advancements are made with equity and respect. 

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