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Updated: Jun 16, 2026
Focus Formation: A Cell-based Assay to Determine the Oncogenic Potential of a Gene
Published on: December 31, 2014
[An improved BALB/c 3T3 cell transformation assay and its application in the cocarcinogenesis study]
Lei Zhang1, Rui Zhao, Ru-gang Zhong
1Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100052, China.
Objective:
To improve the protocol of BALB/c 3T3 cell transformation assay, and apply it to the cocarcinogenesis study.
Method:
Appropriate serum concentration, culture media and method of administration were selected by testing their effects on the growth and transformation of BALB/c 3T3 cells. The co-carcinogenic activity between diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and microcystin-LR (MC-LR) or 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) were examined using the improved cell transformation assay. The malignant characteristics of transformed cells were verified by neoplasia in SCID mice.
Results:
There were strong co-carcinogenic activity between DEN and TCDD. On the contrary, although MC-LR has strong ability to induce cell transformation, the effect was markely inhibited by DEN. The transformed cells show some malignant characteristics.
Conclusion:
The improved BALB/c 3T3 cell transformation assay is reliable and time-saving, and can be efficiently used in the study of cocarcinogenesis.
