Utility of short-term tests for genetic toxicity

By definition, short-term tests (STTs) for genetic toxicity detect genotoxic agents, not carcinogens specifically. However, there is sufficient evidence, based on mechanistic considerations alone, to say that genotoxic agents are potential carcinogens. STTs have high statistical power, are almost always replicated, can be performed rather easily under various sets of experimental conditions, are relatively inexpensive, and detect a variety of endpoints relevant to carcinogenesis. In addition, several STTs have shown considerable utility in evaluating the genotoxic effects of real-world, environmental complex mixtures as well as the antimutagenic effects of various pure compounds and complex mixtures. STTs are likely to continue to be refined, resulting in STTs that are increasingly more relevant to human mutation and disease. Their utility should not be judged solely against the questionable standard of a rodent carcinogenicity assay.