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Chemical carcinogenesis: too many rodent carcinogens.

Year: 1990

Type: article

Abstract: The administration of chemicals at the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) in standard animal cancer tests is postulated to increase cell division (mitogenesis), which in turn increases rates of mutagenesis and thus carcinogenesis. The animal data are consistent with this mechanism, because a high proportion--about half--of all chemicals tested (whether natural or synthetic) are indeed rodent carcinogens. We conclude that at the low doses of most human exposures, where cell killing does not occur, the hazards to humans of rodent carcinogens may be much lower than is commonly assumed.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.87.19.7772

Authors: B N Ames, L S Gold

Institution: University of California, Berkeley

Language: English

Topic: Carcinogens and Genotoxicity Assessment

Subfield: Cancer Research

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: U.S. Department of Energy, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences