On 2014 Sep 15, Amanda Capes-Davis commented:

The authors use the KB cell line to study autophagy in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Please be aware that KB is cross-contaminated with the HeLa cell line and is cervical adenocarcinoma, not OSCC.

Cell lines should be tested for cross-contamination, using a consensus method such as short tandem repeat (STR) profiling. For a list of known cross-contaminated cell lines, see http://iclac.org/databases/cross-contaminations/.

Many journals now require authentication testing before publication. KB is extensively used in specialist oral journals such as J Oral Pathol Med. A requirement for authentication testing in these journals would make oral research more reliable and reproducible.

On 2014 Sep 15, Amanda Capes-Davis commented:

The authors use the KB cell line to study autophagy in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Please be aware that KB is cross-contaminated with the HeLa cell line and is cervical adenocarcinoma, not OSCC.

Cell lines should be tested for cross-contamination, using a consensus method such as short tandem repeat (STR) profiling. For a list of known cross-contaminated cell lines, see http://iclac.org/databases/cross-contaminations/.

Many journals now require authentication testing before publication. KB is extensively used in specialist oral journals such as J Oral Pathol Med. A requirement for authentication testing in these journals would make oral research more reliable and reproducible.