ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews some of the mutagenicity assays used currently, what they measure, how the data can be used for predicting carcinogenicity, and recent developments in the field of genetic toxicology. A motivating force for using mutagenicity as a predictor of carcinogenicity is the fact that most mutagenicity assays can be performed in less time and for less money than any version of a rodent carcinogenicity assay. The chapter presents an overview of the genetic toxicity assays that are in use currently and how predictive they are for carcinogenicity. Mammalian cell mutagenicity assays usually require 2–3 weeks, rather than the 2–3 days required for bacterial mutagenicity assays, and they are generally 10 times more costly than bacterial assays. Although chromosomal mutations can be detected or inferred using some of the mammalian cell mutagenicity assays, chromosomal mutations are generally identified by cytogenetic assays.
