Multiple endpoints for somatic mutations in humans provide complementary views for biodosimetry, genotoxicity, and health risks
There are now four somatic cell mutation assays that are being used to determine in vivo mutagenesis in humans. Each assay is identified by an acronym that specifies the protein in which mutations are determined: HPRT assay, GPA assay, HLA assay, and Hb assay. Potentially, each assay can be used for either of two important applications; biodosimetry or cancer risk estimation. Biodosimetry is a means for determining the amount of exposure of an individual to a toxic agent by measuring the biological effect on the individual who was exposed. Based on the observation that many toxic chemicals and ionizing radiation are mutagenic to cells in culture and also to animals, the somatic mutation assays also should serve as biodosimeters for exposure of humans to these genotoxic phenomena. These four somatic mutation assays should contribute to the possibility of estimating each individual's risk of developing cancer by monitoring for the presence of genotoxicity events similar to cancer initiation events or cancer promotion events on suppressor genes. 16 refs., 4 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 5826733
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-101588; CONF-8907113-7; ON: DE89016577
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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