Biomedical research meets toxicology: How in vitro chromosome instability methods can contribute to carcinogenicity prediction

Abstract

Cancer is a major health concern and a leading cause of mortality. The reliable identification of carcinogens and understanding of carcinogenicity has become a main focus of biomedical research and regulatory toxicology. While biomedical research applies cellular in vitro methods to uncover the underlying mechanisms causing cancer, regulatory toxicology relies on animal testing to predict carcinogenicity of chemicals, often with limited human relevance. Exemplified by chromosome instability- mediated carcinogenicity, we discuss the need to combine the strengths of both fields to develop highly predictive and mechanism- derived in vitro methods that facilitate risk assessment in respect to relevant human diseases.