Human carcinogenic risk evaluation: an alternative approach to the two-year rodent bioassay.

An approach to the evaluation of carcinogenic risk resulting from exposure to a given chemical is presented in place of a reliance on two-year rodent bioassays. An emphasis is placed on evaluation of the potential DNA reactivity or increased cell proliferation that can be produced by a chemical. The special cases of immunosuppressive and estrogenic chemicals are considered. These evaluations are proposed to involve a combination of in vitro assays, computerized models, and short-term (up to 13 weeks) bioassays in rodents. The emphasis is on mechanistic understanding and evaluation of the dose response and relevance to humans.