Empirical comparison of genotoxic potency estimations: the in vitro ToxTracker versus the in vivo micronucleus assay

Check out this latest publication, “Empirical comparison of genotoxic potency estimations: the in vitro DNA-damage ToxTracker endpoints versus the in vivo micronucleus assay” published recently in Mutagenesis.

In this comparative study, John Wills, Paul Rees, George Johnson and colleagues (Cambridge and Swansea Universities) used a benchmark dose (BMD) approach to quantitatively model the dose response data from the DNA damage reporters in ToxTracker. Quantitative, genotoxic potency estimations were calculated for a range of aromatic amine and alkylating agents and these were compared to estimates based on data from the in vivo micronucleus assay.

Generally, there was a good correlation between in vitro ToxTracker and in vivo micronucleus results, albeit with marked scatter across compounds. This tells us that in vitro data enables more than just qualitative screening and hazard identification in genetic toxicology. The paper has in fact stated that, “human-relevant detection of chromosomal damage, the existence of these correlations further demonstrates the utility of the ToxTracker assay”.

You can find out more about ToxTracker here.