HeLa cell, immortal human epithelial cancer cell line, SEM

Breast cancer cell, SEM

Proton CT of a human head

HeLa cells, immortal human epithelial cancer cell line, SEM

Human oral squamous cell carcinoma cell, SEM

Squamous cell carcinoma, mouse eye

Human brain cancer stem cells, SEM

Breast cancer cell spheroid treated with doxorubicin, SEM

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False-coloured scanning electron micrograph of a HeLa cell which is displaying some blebbing. These blebs or ruffles visible on the surface of the cell are local bulges which form in the plasma membrane when it temporarily detaches from the underlying cytoskeleton. Cell blebbing is important for a variety of cellular processes including cell movement and cell division. HeLa cells are an immortal human epithelial cell line derived from a cancerous tumour of the cervix (adenocarcinoma). It was established in 1951 from a biopsy taken from Henrietta Lacks and was the first human cell line to survive and grow in the laboratory. Henrietta's cells were originally used in this way without permission from her or her family which raises issues about ethics and privacy. HeLa cells have been used extensively around the world in many different fields of research including cancer research, immunology and vaccine development. Width of image is 32 micrometres.

Dog (canine) brain as viewed from above. A haemorrhage (stroke) affecting the cerebrum (the main brain region) has resulted in bleeding in the front right-hand region of the brain (bottom left of image). Cerebrovascular accidents are rare in dogs but this type of haemorrhage can occur as a result of tumour growth, blood clotting defects or poisoning.

Canine brain affected by cerebral haemorrhage

Scanning electron micrograph of a multi-cellular prostate tumour spheroid (cluster of tumour cells) treated with nanomedicines carrying the anticancer drug doxorubicin. The purple regions show areas of cells dying through a mechanism known as programmed cell death or “apoptosis” while the yellow regions represent healthy cells.

Diameter of the spheroid is approximately 250 micrometers.

Prostate cancer cells treated with nano sized drug carriers

Multicolour immunofluorescence staining of human tissue from a castration resistant prostate cancer patient. The prostate cancer cells (bottom left and top of image) express both androgen receptor (red) and intermediate filament proteins (yellow). They extend into the bladder (yellow only; middle left to bottom centre of image) and are surrounded by white blood cells (cyan/light blue) that are infiltrating into the area. Cell nuclei (dark blue) are also visible. In men with castration-resistant disease, the cancer is able to continue growing despite lowering hormone androgen levels either by surgically removing the testicles or with medication that stop the testicles from making androgens or that block their effect on the body. Width of image is approximately 690 micrometres.

Castration resistant prostate cancer, human tissue

Table XLII. Instruments for operating on the mouth. 

Table XLIII. The removal of breast tumours.

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Tumor

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Works

HeLa cell, immortal human epithelial cancer cell line, SEM

Canine brain affected by cerebral haemorrhage

Prostate cancer cells treated with nano sized drug carriers

Castration resistant prostate cancer, human tissue

Table XLII-XLIII. A medicinal dictionary, 1743-45.

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Tumor

Images

Works

HeLa cell, immortal human epithelial cancer cell line, SEM

Canine brain affected by cerebral haemorrhage

Prostate cancer cells treated with nano sized drug carriers

Castration resistant prostate cancer, human tissue

Table XLII-XLIII. A medicinal dictionary, 1743-45.

Wellcome Collection

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