Criteria for evidence of chemical carcinogenicity. Interdisciplinary Panel on Carcinogenicity

The Interdisciplinary Panel on Carcinogenicity reviewed and reevaluated criteria for assessing evidence of carcinogenicity of chemical substances. The panel reviewed criteria applicable to data derived from human epidemiological studies and from both in vivo and in vitro laboratory studies. A critical appraisal of all these sources of information led to the conclusion that the characterization of human risk always requires interdisciplinary evaluation of the entire array of data on a case-by-case basis. Animal studies, whenever possible, should be augmented by studies of mechanisms, metabolism, and pharmacodynamics. Such studies may assist in assessing risk to man. Recognizing the utility of such data should point the way for better assessment in the future.