Recommendations for the evaluation of complex genetic toxicity data sets when assessing carcinogenic risks to humans

Genotoxicity testing plays an important role in the assessment of carcinogenic and heritable risks. In many cases, experts charged with assessing genotoxicity test results need to evaluate widely varying numbers and types of bioassays of differing quality, conducted in a variety of cells and species using a wide range of protocols. The recommendations in this article were initially prepared as general guidelines to assist experts involved in the 2016 Joint Food and Agricultural Organization and World Health Organization Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR) in their evaluation of the human health risks associated with exposure to pesticide residues in the diet. A weight of evidence approach is recommended in which studies are evaluated based on quality, reproducibility and consistency, significance of the genetic alteration, phylogenetic relevance to humans, type (in vivo vs. in vitro), and relevance of the route of administration. Using the recommended approach, the most weight will generally be given to high quality in vivo studies of gene and chromosome mutations (including aberrations) in humans or mammals exposed to the chemical through a physiologically relevant route such as oral or dermal administration or by inhalation. The guidelines are intended to give reviewers flexibility in evaluating all relevant scientific information, and allow them to use their best scientific judgment in reaching conclusions about the significance of the genotoxicity results. The use of these guidelines and the associated weighting considerations should facilitate the evaluation of complex and sometimes contradictory data sets, and provide more consistency in evaluations across risk assessments. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 58:380-385, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.