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On the Correlation between Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity

  • Chapter
Genetic Origins of Tumor Cells

Part of the book series: Developments in Oncology ((DION,volume 1))

Abstract

Current estimations on the importance of environmental factors in the etiology of cancer is summarized with special emphasis on the role of chemical agents. The apparent, empirical high degree of correlation between mutagenicity of chemical substances and their carcinogenic activity has led to the proposal of employing short term mutagenicity tests for detecting carcinogens. Arguments in favour and against a causal relationship between the processes of mutation induction and primary cancer initiation have been reviewed; many data favour a mutational change in DNA as initiating event of cancer but they also stress the primordial importance of cytoplasmic factors in the subsequent steps of cancer progression. It is concluded that mutagenicity tests are of value for qualitatively assessing the potential carcinogenicity of environmental chemicals and that further investigations and developments are necessary to reach a more quantitative and therefore predictive capacity.

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  1. G. R. Mohn
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    F. J. Cleton M.D.

  2. Laboratory for Radiation Genetics and Chemical Mutagenesis, Leiden, The Netherlands

    J. W. I. M. Simons Ph.D.

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© 1980 Martinus Nijhoff Publishers bv, The Hague/Boston/London

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Mohn, G.R. (1980). On the Correlation between Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity. In: Cleton, F.J., Simons, J.W.I.M. (eds) Genetic Origins of Tumor Cells. Developments in Oncology, vol 1. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-8823-1_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-8823-1_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-009-8825-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-8823-1

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