The predictive value of mouse liver tumour induction in carcinogenicity testing—a literature survey

Abstract

A survey of the available data in the literature was carried out in an attempt to verify the possible correlation between the capacity of a number of chemicals to induce parenchymal liver tumours in the mouse and their capacity to induce tumours in the liver and/or other organs in the rat and hamster. Data on 58 chemicals were collected. A positive correlation appears to exist between the capacity of a chemical to induce liver tumours in the mouse and its capacity to induce tumours at any site in the rat or the hamster. The strongest correlation is found when the chemical, given to adult mice, induces tumours of the liver and other sites in both sexes. The induction of liver tumours in the mouse by a chemical does not signify that the liver would be the target organ in the rat or the hamster. Among the 58 chemicals considered, seven are recognized or suspected human carcinogens. All were hepatocarcinogenic in the mouse and six were carcinogenic in the liver and/or other organs in the rat. Four were tested in the hamster and found to be carcinogenic.