BIOLOGICAL MODEL OF ED01 HEPATOCARCINOGENESIS

The ED01 bioassay on 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF)-induced hepatocarci nogenesis in BALB/c mice was analyzed using a biologically based, two- mutation model of the oncogenic process, Computer simulations indicate that 2-AAF-induced hepatocarcinogenesis has both genotoxic and promot ional components, However, contrary to the current paradigm, we find t hat the genotoxic component of 2-AAF plays a minor role in its carcino genicity, The ED01 hepatocarcinogenicity can be explained almost entir ely to result from the promotional influence of 2-AAF on an existing p ool of spontaneously initiated cells. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.