In vitro assay for biochemical mechanisms of carcinogenicity using phenotypic transformation of human cells

摘要

Disclosed is a method to evaluate the carcinogenicity of a compound using a transformation assay. The method includes contacting a compound to be tested for carcinogenicity with a test cell. The test cell has a defect in a protective cellular mechanism selected from the group of a defect in a DNA damage repair mechanism, a defect in cell cycle control, and a defect in the ability to prevent damage induced by oxygen free radicals. Cell growth is scored to identify the presence or absence of a transformation characteristic. The development of such a transformation characteristic indicates that the compound being tested is carcinogenic. Further embodiments include a method to identify tissue- specific carcinogens, a method to identify the biochemical mechanism of carcinogenicity of a compound, and a method to evaluate the anticarcinogenicity of a compound.